Developing black and white film is simple with the CineStill Df96 Monobath. The angst of over-development, dilution, timing, or agitation is a thing of the past. Even stop bath, fixer, or hardener can be dispensed with, making at-home film processing foolproof.
This ready-to-use single-step solution overcomes inconsistencies like improper dilution, over-agitation, bubble marks, or surge marks. Over-processing is impossible because the fixing action overtakes chemical development while aiding physical development, resulting in better image uniformity and finer grain negatives.
Df96 solves the traditional monobath issue of losing emulsion speed, which occurred when fixation dissolved exposed silver halide before development. This modern formula buffers fixing and archival fixing agents that are more solvent and aids the silver breakdown by redepositing it, which achieves a crisp, uniform grain and wide development latitude.
Fully Archival Processing
Df96 uses one of the most effective archival fixing agents and will produce fully archival negatives in 3-6 minutes, with proper care. Extending processing time to ensure complete removal (fixing) of undeveloped silver halide will not affect development. Washing time after Df96 processing is exceedingly rapid because the solution is alkaline. Five minutes of washing is sufficient to achieve archival standards. This self-terminating process is fully archival, and it boosts shadow development while terminating highlights from over-processing.
Easy to Use
If you have a processing tank and know the room temperature, you're ready to start. Just check the solution temperature, choose the recommended time/agitation from the label, and pour.
Cost-Effective
You get one litre of reusable monobath solution, which will quickly develop 16+ rolls of film. Then, pour the used chemistry back into the bottle and add 15 seconds for each roll previously processed until you reach 8 minutes.
Chemical Reuse
Reuse depends on silver content. When exhausted, film may still develop but may need extra clearing or fixing. Shelf life is one year unopened, and two months once opened. Yellowing or amber colour indicates expiry.
Process All B&W Film
Df96 monobath works with any black and white film and is designed for traditional cubic-grain emulsions with high silver content, like Trix. Some tabular grain films, like T-Max, with colour dye technology, may come out of the bath with pink/purple dyes in the emulsion, require +2x the clearing time and recommend temp. over 27°C. High speed 3200 films like P3200 and Delta3200 can be processed normally if rated at 1000 ISO or processed over 32°C if rated at 3200. All films can be pushed or pulled by adjusting temp. +/-6?C per stop.
Processing Methods
Development is more affected by temperature; fixing is more affected by agitation, time, and concentration. Temperature tolerance is ±1°C.
Native ISO Development
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27°C for ≥3 min – Constant agitation
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24°C for ≥4 min – Intermittent agitation
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21°C for ≥6 min – Minimal agitation
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Below 20°C – Pulled contrast negatives
Push Development
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30°C for ≥4 min – Intermittent agitation
Pull Development
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21°C for ≥4 min – Constant agitation
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18°C for ≥6 min – Intermittent agitation
3200 Speed Films (Push Two Stops)
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Above 32°C for ≥4 min – Intermittent agitation
Agitation Methods
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Constant: Fluid inversions and rotations with direction changes
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Intermittent: 30 sec agitation, then 10 sec every minute
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Minimal: 10 sec agitation, then 5 sec every minute (avoid standing >1 min to prevent bromide draglines)
Archival Processing
To ensure archival quality: remove undeveloped silver halide and wash out chemicals. Fixing occurs in 3–6 minutes with fresh Df96. Wash under running water for 5 minutes or fill and empty the tank 10 times. A longer final rinse with rinse aid ensures archival negatives.
Minimal Water Usage
After negatives are fixed, fill the tank with water at the same temperature +/-6?C as the processing solutions. Invert the tank five times. Drain the water away and refill. Next, invert the tank ten times. Once more, drain the water. Finally, invert the tank twenty times and drain the water away. Then rinse one final time, optionally with a few drops of Wetting Agent added to the rinse water; distilled water helps prevent hard water spots.
Features
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Ready-to-use processing for traditional B&W film in one bath
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World’s fastest process: 27°C in just 3 minutes
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Flexible processing temperatures (21–27°C)
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Instructions for any room temperature included
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Temperature tolerance ±1°C
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Supports normal and push/pull processing
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Reusable, all-in-one solution
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Processes 16+ rolls of film
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Process 1–8 rolls at a time
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Versatile, self-completing process
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No special processor needed (use standard tanks and reels)
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Fully archival
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Economical
