BW400CN is a C-41 film and should be developed using C-41 chemicals. This film, like nearly all C-41 films, has an orange mask, which must be compensated for when printing or scanning. When prints come out with a sepia tone, it probably means that the lab didn't compensate for the orange mask correctly. Developing this film in traditional B&W chemicals is possible but it won't get rid of the orange mask.
For beginners, I suggest Tri-X with HC-110. HC-110 gives similar results to D-76 but it comes in a syrup, which is easier to mix. A bottle of HC-110 also goes a much longer way than a pack of D-76 powder.
Besides developer, you will need to get chemical stop (optional but recommended), fixer (aka hypo), hypo clear (optional but recommended), and a wetting agent (optional but recommended). Also, if you live in an area with hard water like I do, you will need to buy some bottles of distilled water. One can use water as a stop but with some films, a chemical stop is recommended. I almost always use a chemical stop. Hypo clear will reduce washing time dramatically. A wetting agent will help reduce streaks and spots when your negatives are drying. Hard water may cause spots on your film. I use distilled water when mixing chemicals and for the final wash.
For stop, I use Kodak Indicator Stop-bath. For fixer, I use Kodak Kodafix with hardner. For hypo clear, I use Heico Perma Wash. For a wetting agent, I use Kodak Photo Flo.
For supplies, you will need a dark bag. You'll need a developing tank with reels - I highly recommend a Patterson tank and the new Arista Premium plastic reels from Freestyle Photo. I find that the new Arista Premium reels are much easier to load the the older Arista "Classic" and Patterson plastic reels. (I never got along with the stainless steel stuff.) A bottle opener to open the film canisters and scissors. To hang the film to dry, I use some wire coat-hangers and heavy clips on both ends of the film. You will need storage bottles for your chemicals as your going to reuse your stop, fixer, hypo-clear and wetting agent. You'll need some graduates to measure and mix the chemicals. Get a small, thin one to measure small amounts along with some larger ones. Get a stirring paddle.
I also develop C-41 films at home in additional to B&W films. Developing colour negatives using C-41 chemicals is not too difficult. One just has to keep the temperature of the developer at 39ºC and blix (fixer with bleach) between 38º and 43ºC. For C-41 chemicals I use the K2 Unicolor kits which comes with all the chemicals you need but I use an additional wetting agent at the end.
_________________ "Oui, non, oui, non, OUI!" - Henri Cartier-Bresson Fernando Gomes Semedo - flickr
Last edited by Nando on Wed Jul 18, 2012 12:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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