ERIC KIM ₿

How To Process Develop And Scan Your Own Film Photography At Home

To the future-photographer-warrior within you: THIS is the ultimate empowerment move. When you process your own film, you seize total control of your artistic destiny. No labs. No waiting. No excuses. Just YOU, your hands, your chemistry, and your vision. This is the ERIC KIM WAY—hyper-direct, insanely simple, brutally effective.

Here’s how to dominate the home-film-workflow like a champion:

THE PHILOSOPHY — WHY DEVELOP YOUR OWN FILM?

Because this is the path of the true artist-craftsman. When you develop your own film:

  • You own 100% of the creative pipeline.
  • You save money long-term.
  • You gain mastery over your tones, contrasts, and grain.
  • You collapse the distance between shooting and seeing.
  • You transform photography back into a beautiful, physical, embodied ritual.

This is you becoming a film-samurai-monk in your own home dojo.

THE BASIC GEAR YOU NEED

Keep it insanely simple:

  1. Changing bag — your portable darkroom. Where the magic starts.
  2. Film developing tank + reels (Paterson is king).
  3. Chemicals
    • Developer (Kodak HC-110, Ilford Ilfosol, Df96 monobath—whatever calls your soul).
    • Stop bath (or just plain water).
    • Fixer (Ilford Rapid Fixer = god-tier).
  5. Thermometer — to keep temps real.
  6. Measuring cylinders
  7. Timer (your phone works).
  8. Clips + string — for drying your negatives like laundry for your soul.
  9. Scanner
    • Best budget: Epson V600
    • Best mid-tier: Plustek 8200i
    • Best baller: DSLR/Leica/Ricoh GR copy stand scanning (THE FUTURE).

THE ACTUAL PROCESS — STEP BY STEP

This is the choreography. Do it enough times, it becomes a meditation, a power-ritual.

1. Load the film in the changing bag

No light allowed.

  • Put the film, scissors, tank, reel inside the bag.
  • Zip it up.
  • Insert your arms.
  • Crack open the canister.
  • Trim film leader.
  • Spool the film onto the reel like a boss.
  • Drop reel into tank, close it—NOW it’s light-safe.

You’ve just completed the hardest part.

2. Mix & prep chemicals

Standard black-and-white workflow:

  • Developer around 20°C (68°F).
  • Stop bath (or water rinse).
  • Fixer at room temp.

Think of it like cooking espresso for your negatives.

3. Develop the film

Pour in the developer.

Start timer.

Agitate like gospel:

  • First 30 seconds: gentle inversions.
  • Then 5 seconds every minute.

This is the soul-stirring of your image into existence.

When the timer ends, pour out.

4. Stop the development

  • Quick acid stop bath OR just water.
  • 30 seconds — done.

You are literally freezing time here.

5. Fix the image

Fixer = immortality.

  • Pour it in.
  • Agitate intermittently for 5–8 minutes.

Once fixed, your images are permanently there.

Forever.

As solid as your will.

6. Wash the film

Rinse under running water for 5–10 minutes.

Final rinse in PhotoFlo (or a drop of dish soap).

Avoid water spots like a pro.

7. Hang to dry

This is where your negatives become art.

  • Hang them in a clean, dust-free bathroom.
  • Give them 2–3 hours.

When you see them dry… you will feel that primal filmmaker pride.

HOW TO SCAN YOUR NEGATIVES — THE FUTURE OF YOUR WORKFLOW

This is where you transform analog mastery into digital FIRE.

Three scanning paths:

1. Flatbed scanning (Epson V600 / V850)

  • Simple
  • Works great for 35mm + medium format
  • Use holders
  • Scan at 2400–3200 dpi

This gives that classic digital-friendly film look.

2. Dedicated film scanner (Plustek 8200i, etc.)

  • Highest detail for 35mm
  • Slow but godlike resolution
  • Perfect for archival or portfolio work

3. DSLR / Mirrorless / Leica / Ricoh GR copy stand scanning (THE NEW WAVE)

This is the Eric Kim revolutionary approach:

  • Mount camera above film on a stand
  • Use a macro lens or close-focus lens
  • Illuminate film with LED panel or iPad white screen
  • Shoot RAW
  • Invert using Lightroom or Negative Lab Pro

This gives you:

  • Ultimate sharpness
  • Maximum control
  • IMMENSE SPEED
  • The joy of blending film + digital excellence

This is the future.

THE SECRET SAUCE — ERIC KIM STYLE

After you scan:

  • Pump the contrast
  • Deep blacks
  • Punchy whites
  • No fear
  • No hesitation
  • Make images that slap the viewer awake
  • Add your soul to each frame

Film is the medium.

YOU are the message.

YOUR CALL TO ACTION

The world needs your film photographs.

Your vision.

Your courage.

Your soul rendered in silver.

Get the gear.

Shoot the roll.

Process it yourself.

Scan it yourself.

DIGITIZE YOUR DESTINY.

Become a one-person CHRONICLE OF LIFE.

And remember:

YOU are the ultimate darkroom.

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