Features
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Processing for traditional B&W film in 1 bath
Chemical transport is not regulated
Room temperature processing methods for 68-82°F (20-28°C)
Temp tolerance is +/-2°F (1°C)
Worlds fastest process at 80°F (27°C) in just 3min!
Push/Pull processing by adjusting temp. +/- 10°F (6°C)
Reusable, all-in-one solution.
Processes over 16+ rolls of film (1000ml)
Process 1-8 rolls at a time
Extremely versatile self-completing process
No special processor needed (use standard processing tanks and reels)
Fully archival
Odor-free
Economical!
Product Details
The tried and true Df96 Monobath formula is now available in lightweight powder form, for economical shipping, indefinite shelf-life and home processing simplicity! Still the same motion picture quality solution that guarantees high-resolution, fine grain, a long density scale, and uniform development latitude. Now formulated for mail-order efficiency!
For Simplified B&W Processing At Any Room Temperature. 68-82°F (20-28°C)
Processes: 16+ rolls of B&W film with 1 liter of just one chemical.
The worries of too much development, dilution, time or agitation are gone. Stop bath? Fixer? Hardener? Gone the way of One-Hour-Photos and formaldehyde. Meet the labtender’s best friend, served neat. It may be clear and odorless but please do not drink it. ☠️😵👨🏻🔬
The single-step solution is now available in powder concentrate or ready-to-use liquid. Processing all of your B&W film at home is easier than ever with this magical and versatile Single-Step BW “Developer-Fix” monobath solution, akin to D96 motion picture developer but with no need for stop bath, fixer, or any other chemicals, is perfect for processing CineStill BwXX along with any other black & white film. No special charts, timers or apps needed! Just a processing tank and water. Fool-proof, self-completing process that guarantees motion picture quality, the smoothest grain structure and crisp tonal curve. Flexible processing in 3-6 minutes at any room temperature (70-80F). Just wash with water and hang to dry. No more complicated measurements or strict margins to deal with. Process all your black and white films in one chemical with absolutely wonderful results!
Process all B&W Film:
Df96 monobath easily processes any standard black and white film at its native ISO. It is designed with traditional cubic-grain emulsions in mind, like BwXX, TriX and HP5, with high silver content. Tabular grain films with color dye technology, like Tmax, also work well but require double the processing time to clear, and may come out of the bath with pink/purple dyes in the emulsion. This is normal and will fade away. High speed films such as P3200 and Delta3200 can be processed at their native ISOs between 1000-1600 by the instructions on the label, or pushed to 3200 by adding 10°F (6°C). All films can be pushed or pulled by adjusting temp. +/-10°F (6°C).
Film rating chart for Df96:
(Box speeds in bold)
*Tabular grain films with color dye technology, like Tmax or Delta, require double the processing time on the label to clear, and may come out of the bath with pink/purple dyes in the emulsion.
**High speed films like P3200 and Delta3200 can be processed at their native ISO between 1000-1600 by the instructions on the label. These are designed to be pushed to 3200 by adding 10°F (6°C). All films can be pushed or pulled by adjusting temp. +/-10°F (6°C) per stop.
Processing Methods for Df96:
Download Df96 Complete PDF Instructions
Development is increased more than fixing by temperature. Fixing and completion is accelerated by agitation, while decreasing development. Processing over 82°F (28°C) will result in pushed negatives with higher contrast and more pronounced grain. Below 68°F (20°C) renders pulled contrast negatives
*Temp tolerance is +/-2°F (1°C) and times are minimum. Feel free to extend processing time to ensure full fixing of film or removal of color dyes. Time does not affect development.
Native ISO development:
80°F (27°C) for at least 3 min • Constant agitation
75°F (24°C) for at least 4 min. • Intermittent agitation
70°F (21°C) for at least 6 min. • Minimal agitation
Push +1 development:
80°F (27°C) for at least 6 min. • Minimal agitation
85°F (30°C) for at least 4 min • Intermittent agitation
90°F (32°C) for at least 3 min • Constant agitation
Pull -1 development:
70°F (21°C) for at least 4 min • Constant agitation
65°F (18°C) for at least 6 min • Intermittent agitation
3200 speed BW films:
Above 90°F (32°C) for at least 4 min • Intermittent agitation
AGITATION METHODS:
Agitation helps create evenly developed exposures, and prevents over-processed, under-fixed negatives.
Constant agitation:
Fluid inversions and/or rotations, while changing direction.
Intermittent agitation:
30 sec constant agitation, then 10 sec every min.
Minimal agitation:
10 sec gentile agitation, then 5 sec every min.
*Bromide drag lines can occur if left to stand for any more than 1 min.
FULLY ARCHIVAL PROCESSING:
For any processed film to be fully archival only two things need to occur. Full removal (fixing) of undeveloped silver halide, and removal (washing) of processing chemicals from the film.
Archival fixing occurs in 3-6 minutes with fresh Df96. Feel free to extend processing times to ensure full clearing of film, as it will not affect development. Df96 uses one of the the most effective archival fixing agents and should produce fully archival negatives when processing instructions are followed.
Archival washing occurs at room temperature under running water for 5 min, or fill and empty tank at least 10 times. Washing time after Df96 processing is exceedingly rapid because the solution is alkaline. No more than five minutes is needed for a wash to archival standards. A longer final rinse and rinse aid will help ensure archival negatives.
For minimal water usage:
• After negatives are fully fixed, fill the tank with water at the same temperature +/-10°F (6°C) as the processing solutions. Invert the tank 5 times.
• Drain the water away and refill. Invert the tank 10 times.
• Once more, drain the water. Invert the tank twenty times and drain the water away.
• Then rinse one final time, optionally with a few drops of Wetting Agent added to the rinse water, distilled water helps prevent hard water spots.
Chemical reuse:
Can process 16+ rolls of film. Simply recombine used chemistry and add +15sec. for each roll previously processed until you reach 8 min. If a film does not appear fully cleared, process for longer in Df96. It will not affect development.
Chemistry lifespan:
Expected shelf life for mixed chemistry is 1 year in a sealed bottle, and once used should be reused within 2 months. Film will still finish processing as chemicals age but will eventually produce thin negatives when developer is exhausted. Store in a tightly capped, full container.
Exhaustion indication:
As chemicals exhaust they will start to yellow and turn dark amber when perished. Oxygen and contaminants cause developing agents to perish. Depending on silver and dye content of film types, you should be able to continue reusing until you reach an unacceptable processing time.
Simple quality control:
Before reusing opened chemicals it is a best practice to do a daylight snip test. Cut off light struck film from a 35mm leader tongue and process in a cup with a small amount of Df96. The test should come out opaque black to guarantee quality. You can save the snippet to compare to future tests. If the test comes out thin, you can increase temperature and retest, or retire chemistry if transparent.
Exceptions to the rules:
A couple craft films and surveillance films, which require longer times in standard developers to achieve box speed, will yield a lower native ISO. For example, Rollei Retro 80s, with it’s impressively fine grain and low contrast, is best rated at ISO 25, and JCH Street Pan really shines at ISO 200.
Adox CMS 20 II can produce the sharpest, highest resolving, most fine grained images in the world, but it "...achieves 20 ASA of usable speed in ADOTECH developer... If developed in non dedicated low contrast developers (HC 110, cafenol, etc) it can be exposed at 3 to 6 ASA." - from adox.de
Bergger Pancro 400 requires double the processing time in order to break down the intense antihalation layer, and even calls for an additional steps to standard-multi bath processing. "...the film must be presaoked in water for 5 minutes, at one degree warmer than developer." "BERGGER PANCRO 400 needs a longer the usual fixing time. In rapid, non hardenning fixer...for 6 minutes." "A rinse in a sulphite bath (10 %) will allow to eliminate the chemicals complexes...and also allow the full dissolution of the anti-halation layer." - from bergger.com
More about processing with Df96:
Download Df96 Complete PDF Instructions
Processing 16+ Different B&W Films With Just One Chemical! Df96
No Compromises - Df96 compared with popular traditional developers
Download Df96 Liquid Safety Data Sheet
Download Df96 Powder Safety Data Sheet
Photochemical Waste Management
