[Developing 101] Caffenol-C
I decided to give Caffenol a shot – specifically because I’m going to give a class at Hive76 about developing film DIY style. Should probably know wtf I’m doing before trying to teach someone else how to do it, right?
I went with Caffenol-C. I don’t have a good reason why – just seemed like a good idea.
The recipe is simple. While I bought the majority of my ingredients online, that’s only due to my laziness and lack of wanting to see if I could get these things at a local store.
That said, you’ll need some instant coffee (non-decaf), Washing Soda and some Vitamin C powder. I had my bride pick up the instant coffee while she was out. I based the recipe below off this C version from digitaltruth.
For my first attempt, I chose to use some Tri-X 400 120. I mixed up only what I needed to fill the tank.
- 700ml Water
- 36ml Washing Soda
- 11ml Vitamin C Powder4
- 60ml Instant Coffee
There seems to be an order of which you should mix these… one way being the correct way, and the other leaving you with white ‘rocks’. I didn’t pay enough attention to what I was doing to tell you which is better, but I can tell you that if you let said ‘rocks’ sit 20-30 minutes, which is recommended anyway, they will dissolve.
Once mixed up, and rocks dissolved, I brought the mix up to 68 degrees and developed for 15 minutes, which I found to be a little short. 20 minutes for Tri-X is the sweet spot for me. The Stop process is replaced with a 1 minute wash (about 3-4 fills, empty, repeat), and a normal fixer (The only real photo chemical required), followed by the usual wash. It’s worth noting that the fixer didn’t seem to be effected at all. I ended pouring it back into my supply. It’s not worth using a commercial stop bath, as I suspect you wont be able to reuse it.
The Stop Sign above is a first result. I scanned them as ‘color’ to get that coffee feel. Also, they smell wonderful. My second round was also exciting.
So, if you’re out of developer or just in the mood for something different, Caffenol will get the job done. You’ll get some nice grain (maybe a LOT of it – like those digital folks try with their photoshops), and some nice smelling negatives. It’s definitely worth trying at any rate. I really enjoyed it – it’s fun!
