Processing Negatives With Coffee

lulalake · Expire: 2011-11-18

Hi,

Developing Negatives in coffee is more involved than most developers but the results are worth using it from time to time. It tends to take a much longer time in preparation and actual processing.

The following is what I�ve found works best for me. It can be done more simply however if done carefully, the results are as good and/or better than anything out there in my opinion.

Materials. :

1: Coffee.

I have found that Instant coffee tends to be more effective than ground coffee. I�ve used both and though ground coffee works well, instant works better.

2: Washing Soda. (Sodium Carbonate)

In the US this is available at larger grocery stores in the laundry soap sections. It�s very inexpensive and not very toxic though you don�t want to drink it. DO NOT use baking soda (Sodium bicarbonate) it will not work.
Note: Sodium Carbonate is a wetting agent so you don�t have to use any wetting agents in the developer.

3. Vitamin C.

This is optional however it reduces the time in developing by about 1/3 and seems to help bind the stain to the negative. I�ve processed with and without vitamin C and now I always use it.

Note: I recommend Vitamin C crystals as they have no binding material as do Vitamin C tablets. Health food stores usually carry this although you may need to order it on the Internet.

4. Benzotriazole: Optional also, an Anti fogging agent, available in the US at the Photographers Formulary and probably many other places where one gets darkroom chemicals.

Note: Benzotriazole is not soluble in water, it requires ethyl (not denatured) alcohol so Everclear or any 180 proof white alcohol will work. I use Everclear (DO NOT use acetone as it may melt your negs).

Note: Benzotriazole is toxic so use it with caution, rubber or nitrile gloves and don�t breathe the fumes etc.

5. Distilled water if possible. In the US at regular supermarkets in the baby food section.

I mix up 1100ml total of the developer or so per batch as that is what my developing tank holds. This will develop three or 4 rolls of 35mm, two or three rolls of 120mm or six negs of 4x5 film. These are the amounts I regularly use.

Using this formula you will need three clean decanting bottles, a maximum of 750mil bottles plus one 1000ml+ mixing container. Old wine bottles are perfect but I prefer rum bottles (Ah well, another story there).

The recipe:

1. 16-17 rounded teaspoons (normal kitchen teaspoons) of instant coffee to 750ml of very hot water.
2. 6 � teaspoons (normal kitchen teaspoons) of washing soda to 300ml of very hot water
3. One gram of Benzotriazole to 100ml alcohol (room temp.)
4. � tsp Vitamin C crystal (1000mg).

The night before you will be actually processing the negatives. . . . . . .

1. Boil 700mm water, mix in the coffee. Pour the brew into a very clean 750mm bottle. Cork, screw on the top, whatever and set aside to cool and let the grains settle overnight.

2. Boil 300mm water and mix in 6 � teaspoons of Washing Soda. Swirl this around till it is completely dissolved. (A few minutes). It will be milky and somewhat yellow.

3. Add the vitamin C To the washing Soda, swirl around a bit. Cap and set aside to cool and let the grains settle overnight.

4. In a third bottle, mix one gram Benzotriazole (about � teaspoon)to 100ml alcohol. Cover tightly and set aside.

Next Day when you are ready to process, have your negs ready. (I suggest a 2 minute wash of the negs before processing to get rid of the halation layer.)

Into the fourth separate very clean, 1000ml+ container, pour in about 90% of the coffee being careful not to add the grainy stuff at the bottom of the bottle. Same for the Washing Soda. Also add the Benzotriazole There will be no dregs in the Benzotriazole.

If it smells like old cooking oil you have done great.

Swirl for a few seconds and pour this mess into your developing tank.
Roughly 30 Min in this tank, one full agitation every two minutes, tapping to remove the air bubbles.

Stop bath with an acid stop bath, fix with any standard fixer, (I use Ilford quick fixer), wash for 15 minutes, the final wash using any wetting agent.

Hang up to dry and that�s it!

Jules