B&W film development
Push, pull and density control
There's no single correct development. There's the one each photograph needs. In this workshop you learn to control negative density: standard development, push and pull. Two rolls, four hours.
Where can I learn to develop film in Barcelona? At Llumàtics, at Nau Bostik (La Sagrera). This B&W film development workshop lasts 4 hours, includes two 35 mm rolls and all chemicals, and runs in groups of up to 4 people. Price: €220 for 1 student, €125 per person for 2, €94 for 3 and €79 for 4.
There’s no single correct development
Standard developer and manufacturer timings are a starting point, not a destination. An underexposed film needs push development to recover density. An overexposed one needs pull to avoid blown highlights. And a correctly exposed film can be developed in many different ways depending on the result you’re after.
In this workshop we work on the relationship between exposure, temperature and development time. Not as theory — as practice: two rolls, two processes, two results that we compare directly on the light box.
Contents
The negative and its density
- How the negative forms: the oxidation-reduction reaction
- Density, contrast and acutance: the three dimensions of the negative
- Reading the negative: shadows, midtones and highlights
- The light meter and exposure: the foundation we develop from
Push and pull
- Deliberate underexposure and push development: when and why
- Overexposure and pull development: controlling contrast
- Effects on grain: why pushing increases grain
- Basic zone system: the relationship between exposure and development
Development variables
- Temperature: every degree counts
- Time: manufacturer tables as a starting point
- Dilution: concentrated vs. highly diluted
- Agitation: continuous, intermittent, none (stand development)
Practice with two rolls
Each participant works with two rolls. The first is developed at standard — as a reference. The second with a different process: push +1 or +2 stops, pull, elevated temperature, extreme dilution. At the end we compare the dry negatives on the light box and read the results.
What’s included
- 2 rolls of 35mm B&W film (ISO 400 recommended)
- All chemicals: developer, stop bath, fixer
- Developing spiral and tank available if you don’t have one
- Use of the darkroom
What to bring
- Nothing. If you have your own exposed rolls at a different ISO you want to test, bring them along.
Not included
- Additional rolls (available at Llumàtics, €12/roll)
- Paper prints of the negatives (Darkroom Printing workshop)
- Digitisation (optional, +€15)
Frequently asked questions
Where can I learn to develop film in Barcelona?
At Llumàtics, at Nau Bostik (Carrer Ferran Turné 1-11, La Sagrera, Barcelona). There we run the B&W film development workshop: four hours, two rolls included and groups of up to four people. We also offer an introduction to film development in collaboration with Cameras & Films.
How much does a film development workshop cost in Barcelona?
Llumàtics' B&W film development workshop costs €220 for one student and drops to €79 per person for a group of four, with both rolls and all chemicals included. Taxes included.
Do I need previous experience to learn film development?
No previous experience is needed to start. The B&W development workshop is accessible from scratch; if you're starting with no background, we recommend beginning with Foundations or going straight into development, where you learn the whole process.
What does the film development workshop include?
It includes two 35 mm black-and-white rolls, all chemicals (developer, stop and fixer), use of the darkroom, and a reel and tank if you don't have one. It doesn't include paper prints or scanning, which can be done in follow-up workshops.
Workshop details
- Objective
- Master B&W film development with your own criteria: understand the relationship between exposure, temperature and time to get the negative your photograph needs.
- Methodology
- Hands-on lab work with two rolls per participant. One is developed at standard; the other is used to experiment with push, pull and temperature variations.
- Outcome
- Two rolls developed with different processes. Practical understanding of how development variables affect negative density, grain and contrast.
- Prerequisites
- Having developed film at least once before. Able to load the spiral and follow timings independently. If you've never developed, start with the Introduction to Film Development workshop.
- Who it's for
- Analogue photographers who already develop and want to go further: understanding why a negative comes out too dense, flat or grainy — and knowing how to fix it.
Already done this workshop?
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