How to Develop Black and White Film in Beer

So, you want to develop your black and white film in beer?

Here’s the recipe I use to get great results, time after time. Check out my Faces in Beer project for more examples!

You’ll Need

• 600 ml of beer

• 50 grams washing soda*

• 12 grams of ascorbic acid (powered vitamin C)

Directions

• Heat 600ml of beer to 90°f.

• Mix in 50 grams washing soda* and whisk until dissolved.

• Stir in 12 grams of ascorbic acid (powered vitamin C) and mix until dissolved.

• Develop at 68°f for 20 minutes. To get the beer down to 68°f, I suggest a cool water bath. Place your beer in a metal mixing bowl, and place that bowl in a larger mixing bowl filled with ice water. Wisk until the beer's temperature drops to 68°f.

• Add your beer to the developing tank and agitate for the first minute, then again for 15 seconds at the top of each remaining minute.

• Wash and fix per the film's instructions.

*Washing soda is not the same as baking soda. Don’t have washing soda? You can make it by heating baking soda to 400°f for 30 mins.

Whisk in washing soda first, then ascorbic acid until fully dissolved.

Cool your developer to 68°f as shown here. I use a large bowl filled with ice to cool my smaller bowl containing the developer.