GENERAL

General Guideline for use of the Darkroom Equipment and 'how to' in developing

SAFETY

When developing any film or making your own prints you are working with CHEMICALS that need to be handled with care and proper PPE

Quick Notes before getting started:

Developer solutions and powders often have high concentrations of alkaline metals. Glacial acetic acid is used in making the stop bath. Both are corrosive by skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion.
Powdered photo chemicals are easily inhaled before they are mixed. Some of these powders are mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic (capable of causing birth defects), and many are toxic by inhalation, and various pulmonary issues may result.
If mixed with acid, heated, or cross-contaminated with other photo processing baths, photochemicals may generate toxic gases like hydrogen selenide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen cyanide, (exposure to these gases may be fatal) and others.

Know the materials you plan to work with. Always review the SDSs for all chemicals used in a process so that you are fully aware of the hazards and how to mitigate those hazards, and use the least toxic and least hazardous materials possible.
Use liquid photochemicals whenever possible, rather than mixing developing powders to prevent inhalation of dust. Pregnant women in particular should avoid exposure to powdered developer.
Use tongs, rather than bare hands, to reach into baths and to handle materials removed from baths.
When mixing powdered developers, use local exhaust ventilation. If local exhaust ventilation is unavailable and you think you may need respirator protection, please contact EH&S (respirators@umass.edu) for evaluation of your process and assistance with selection and fit-testing of appropriate respiratory protection.
Wear full PPE (gloves, chemical splash goggles and protective apron or lab coats) when mixing concentrated photochemicals.
Always add any acid to water, never the reverse.
Store concentrated acids and other corrosive chemicals on low shelves so as to reduce the chance of face or eye damage in case of breakage and splashing.
Do not store photographic solutions in glass containers.
Use of corrosive materials and photochemicals should only occur in locations where there is immediate access (i.e., within 50 ft.) to eyewashes and drench showers.

General Safety and Requirements

All chemicals must be labeled properly with full names and date of mixing/opening
Never combine chemicals into one bottle, even for disposal
Most chemicals can NOT be poured down the drain. If chemicals need to be disposed of please contact the shop caption or one of the higher ups.

Quick 'How to' on developing color film : https://filmphotographyproject.com/develop-my-own-color-film-what-stuff-do-i-need/

Places to buy film both local and nation wide

Where to get film professional developed: