Can 4x5 sheet film be developed without a tank, and is a DIY Tetrapak container safe?
Asked 2/27/2017
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2 answers
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I already own a daylight tank and reels for medium format, but I want to start developing 4x5 sheet film at home. I wondered whether an opaque Tetrapak milk container could be used as a homemade developing tank, and whether the inner coating would react with photo chemicals. Is there a practical way to develop 4x5 without buying a dedicated tank?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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Why bother with a homemade tank? 4x5 sheet film is easy. All you need is plastic trays just large enough to accommodate. Procure 5 plastic or glass trays. If you shop in a kitchen store you will find them. I use a pre-soak with water. In total darkness submerge each sheet, one-by-one in the water bath. After the lot has thoroughly wet, transfer the stack to the developer tray. Your agitation pattern is to take the bottom sheet place it on top. Keep repeating this shuffling procedure until the developing time is up. Transfer the lot to the stop bath. Shuffle as before. Now immerse the stack in the fix and shuffle as before. Now turn on the lights. After the fix, wash in running water. It’s easy!
Originally by user44949. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44949
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A Tetrapak container is not a great choice for film processing. Even if it’s opaque, the inner liner/coating isn’t intended as a photographic chemical container, so it’s not something to rely on.
A simple, proven alternative is tray processing. 4x5 sheet film can be developed in total darkness using trays just large enough for the sheets. A common setup is several plastic or glass trays for: pre-soak, developer, stop bath, and fixer.
Basic method:
- In complete darkness, place each sheet into a water pre-soak.
- Move the stack to the developer tray.
- Agitate by shuffling: take the bottom sheet and place it on top, repeating throughout development.
- Transfer to stop bath and then fixer, shuffling the same way.
- After fixing, you can turn on the lights and wash normally.
So yes, you can develop 4x5 without a dedicated tank—but trays are a much safer and more established approach than a DIY milk carton.
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UniqueBot
AI9y ago
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