Photography is and has always been a popular medium for both the purposes of entertainment and news. The photo processing business has evolved quite a lot over the years. Now with the popularity of digital photography, film processing is much more streamlined to meet the demands of a global community that relies on speed and accuracy of information and entertainment.

The pricing and costs of film processing to develop film depend on many factors, including the type of film developing you need to do. Other considerations connected to price are:

1. What type of film photo processing machines can handle.

2. How long it takes the machine to develop a single roll of film.

3. Whether the film processor is equipped to handle digital photographs.

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Buy dark room supplies for black and white film processing

If you want to specialize in developing back and white film exclusively, it is much more cost-effective to set up your own darkroom. Once you have buy all the initial supplies, the cost of maintaining the darkroom is low because all you need are chemicals and paper. Putting together a black and white film processing darkroom will cost around $500 for equipment, and up to $1,500 for supplies such as developer, fixer and other chemicals.

I recommend: Calumet Photographic has all the top equipment you need to set up a professional quality lab. AtOncer is a place where you can get many deals on film processing supplies through fixed price and auctions.

Choose professional film developing equipment, such as machine processors

Photo processing machines can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $45,000, but can do the work of one person at three times the speed. Most photo processing machines can easily handle the job of 35mm film processing in color or black and white. Some models are also made to handle a variety of film sizes and types. Models at the lower end of the price range will probably be in used condition, and may also process slower than higher end models.

I recommend: Precision Images offers a range of photo processing machines for your photo processing business. ESECO offers many types of paper and film developers for any type of photo processing business.

Invest in machines for digital camera film processing

Many people use digital cameras exclusively because digital photos are easier to share and save, but many of these photographers want traditional prints as well. You can find many film processors are made for printing photos from digital cameras. You can pay as little as $15,000 for a small desktop model and up to $50,000 for a stand-alone version. There are many available used as well.

I recommend: AgfaPhoto has a large selection of mini-lab models that are perfect for making prints from digital images. Fujifilm is another popular brand for digital lab solutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Because film developer machines are quite an investment, talking to a dealer and arranging a demonstration is always a good idea before you commit to the product.

Film processing is a science which requires a darkroom, chemicals and the proper amount of time to get film from the reel into a usable negative. Film developing follows film processing and allows you an artistic range. You can choose to have photo processing equipment develop your images based on manual settings, or you can develop each negative into a photo yourself based on your priorities.

There are a few items to consider as you evaluate whether to delve into the film processing world and develop film yourself, or whether it makes more sense to let someone else to the processing so you can focus on the image developing:

1. The cost of chemicals to process film can be prohibitive if you don't process a lot of film or if you focus on movie film.

2. A small closet-sized darkroom is sufficient for processing 120 film or 35mm film, but a much larger space is needed for 16mm film processing.

3. The film developing equipment needed to process film ranges from inexpensive for still film, to quite expensive for movie film.

4. Black and white film processing is cheaper than color film processing due to the inherent nature of each type of film.

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Examine the expense for creating your own film processing darkroom

From lowest to highest cost, setting up a darkroom to process and develop black and white still film comes in at the low end followed by a color lab, then black and white movie film and then color movie film. Knowing the fundamentals of the black and white still darkroom is a great foundation for any other film processing and developing desires, but you certainly don't have to start there.

I recommend: B&H Photo has 35mm and 120 film darkroom supplies along with 16mm film needs. Read about what is involved and needed to process 16mm motion film through the 8mm Film Format Metadirectory.

Study film processing technology before creating your own darkroom

Know everything that is involved, including the costs of equipment and chemicals before embarking on the time consuming task of processing film and being your own film developer. Take a class to learn the technique behind camera film processing; a benefit is the ability to use the darkroom for your own projects.

I recommend: Photographer's Formulary offers traditional and alternative process still film onsite workshops from June through October in Montana. Find a local film school through FilmSchools.com to learn movie film processing and developing.

Use a lab to minimize in-house cost and time for 16mm film processing

Developing 16mm movie film is an involved process that can be done in a home darkroom, if desired, but it may be more convenient to let professionals do the work so you can delve into the creative task of editing that much sooner. The process is similar to 35mm film processing, however the expensive equipment, different chemicals, and amount of time needed to process a roll of film ranging from 100- to 400-feet roll are different.

I recommend: The experienced staff at Spectra Film and Video offers reasonable rates and some packages on black and white as well as color 16mm film processing. Cinelab offers a variety of straightforward per-foot pricing for processing your 16mm film.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consumer film processor technology continues to improve, but is still expensive. Plan on a few thousand dollars for the processor and then factor in more money for chemicals, paper, and other developing needs.

Film processing ranges from simple digital photograph processing, which can be done without much training using computer software, to traditional darkroom 35mm film developing or x-ray and radiology film processing. No formal degree is necessary to develop film of any kind, but you will need experience working with different types of film.

You can gain experience as a film developer by following step-by-step instructions for basic processing, and expand your film processing education and training through training manuals, classes and even advanced degrees. Photography degrees typically involve at least one course that uses traditional film developing equipment.

Begin your film processing education and training with the following sources:

1. Use step-by-step instructions to learn film developing basics.
2. Attend classes, seminars and workshops to learn hands-on film processing skills.
3. Enroll in formal degree programs for broader education in the photo processing business.
   

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Get instructions for the basic process to develop film

If all you need is to develop basic 35mm film in color or black and white, instructions are easy to find. While a minimum level of equipment and chemicals is necessary, these materials are widely available from art supply and camera specialty retailers.

I recommend: Black & White World offers step-by-step instruction for processing black and white film. Chromogenic includes detailed instructions for 35mm film processing, including the basic equipment needed to develop film.

Learn about film processing methods from courses and seminars

Film processing skills can also be learned in courses and seminars. Many photography programs and schools offer individual courses that meet online or in person to help target specific skills needed to be a film developer.

I recommend: PhotoManhattan offers an entire range of individual photography classes, including darkroom film processing, which can help students fill in the gaps in their film processing education and training. UniversalClass also offers an online class in darkroom film processing.

Get extensive training to be a film processor through advanced degrees

Many colleges and technical schools offer 2- or 4-year degrees in photography, which typically include at least one course in film processing. Technical programs may place an even heavier emphasis on film processing equipment operation and technology. While an advanced degree is not usually necessary for film processing, it can provide a good background where experience is lacking.

I recommend: Catawba Valley Community College is one of several programs in the United States in photographic technology, with an emphasis on both traditional and digital film processing. Other colleges and universities with large photography departments, like Columbia College in Chicago, also offer coursework in film processing as part of their degree requirements.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While a degree is not necessary for film processing, several other types of informal qualifications are important in developing film. Manual dexterity, attention to detail, mathematical skills and experience using computer equipment are all useful qualifications for a film processor.

A photographer could have the perfect image inside a camera, but the world won't benefit from it with improper developing techniques. Learning film processing key terms helps an artist understand different facets of the developing process, resulting in high-quality image output.

Knowing and understanding film processing key terms also helps a professional communicate clearly with customers and other professionals. It demonstrates professionalism in the photography industry. Many key terms revolve around errors in that occur during processing, so knowing their definitions can help you eliminate problems.

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Blue screen processing

Blue screen processing refers to a special effects process. Professionals use it in film, since it creates an illusion for a background that isn't physically present.

I recommend: WiseGEEK offers an explanation of blue screen processing for television, film and video. It offers a brief history of the process.

Agitation

To ensure smooth and even development during the development process, a photo developer uses agitation, which is a movement pattern in the development tank that happens at preset, regular intervals.

I recommend: Photo.net offers a community where photographers gather together to share tips on developing and filming. They discuss topics such as the pros and cons of continuous or intermittent agitation for film processing.

Contamination

For clearer images, one must avoid contamination. This is the term used for chemicals that spread into areas where they shouldn't go. Contamination frequently ruins prints and negatives.

I recommend: Integrated Publishing offers an illustration of materials one could use for film processing. It describes which materials reduce contamination and even eliminate it completely.

Highlight area

This term refers to the darkest part of the negative and to the lightest spot in a print.

I recommend: Misti Mountain Observatory, a site that deals with astrophotogray, offers a visual example of a highlight area from film processing. It demonstrates how to work with a highlight area in Photoshop.

Overdeveloped

One considers a film overdeveloped when its negative highlights have too much density, but its areas of shadow appear fine.

I recommend: The Photocentric offers tips on dealing with overdeveloped film. It provides a forum where members ask questions and receive answers from other professionals in the field on topics such as overdeveloped film.

Overexposed

In film developing, the term overexposed refers to shadowy areas in a negative that are too dense.

I recommend: Photography Basics offers visual examples of overexposed images. It offers a forum where professionals consult with each other on working with overexposed prints, as well as other film developing topics.