How to Develop Black and White Film at Home with Ilford Simplicity
By Harrison Cameras | Published: 2026-10-24
Category: How-to Guides
Learn to develop black and white film at home using Ilford Simplicity. Step-by-step guide with tips for clean, streak-free negatives.
Quick Answer
You can develop black and white film at home with Ilford Simplicity, a starter-friendly system that uses pre-measured sachets. Follow a simple sequence of develop, stop, fix, and rinse to get clean, printable negatives on your first try.
Why Ilford Simplicity is a good starting point
Ilford Simplicity removes the guesswork from home film developing. Each sachet is pre-measured for a specific tank size, so you don't need to weigh chemicals or calculate dilutions. This is ideal if you're new to developing and want consistent results without investing in extra equipment.
The system includes developer, stop, fixer, and wetting agent sachets, each matched to a 600ml two-reel tank. That means you can develop two rolls of 35mm film or one roll of 120 film per batch, which is perfect for a weekend session.
What you'll need before you start
Besides the Ilford Simplicity sachets, you'll need a developing tank, reels, a thermometer, a timer, and a changing bag if you don't have a darkroom. You'll also need a mixing container that holds at least 600ml, and a source of running water at the right temperature.
Check your tank's capacity to make sure it matches the 600ml volume. If your tank holds less, you may need to adjust the amount of water, but the sachets are designed for this standard size.
Step-by-step: Develop your first roll
- Set up your workspace: Lay out your tank, reels, sachets, measuring cup, thermometer, and timer. Make sure you have a clean, dust-free area and a water source at 20°C (68°F). If you're using a changing bag, load the film onto the reel inside it before turning on the lights. Check that your tank and reels are completely dry before loading film to avoid sticking.
- Mix the developer: Pour the contents of one Ilford Simplicity Film Developer sachet into a clean container, then add water to make 600ml total at 20°C. Stir gently until fully mixed. This is your working solution. Use a thermometer to verify the temperature; too warm or too cold will affect development time.
- Develop the film: Pour the developer into the tank and start your timer. Agitate continuously for the first 30 seconds, then for 5 seconds every 30 seconds for the rest of the development time. Follow the time recommended by Ilford for your film and temperature. Keep agitation consistent; too little can cause uneven development, too much can increase contrast.
- Stop and fix: Pour out the developer and add the stop bath sachet mixed to 600ml. Agitate for about 30 seconds. Then pour out the stop and add the fixer sachet mixed to 600ml. Fix for the time specified, usually 2-5 minutes, with agitation. After fixing, you can open the tank; the film is no longer light-sensitive.
- Wash and use wetting agent: Rinse the film with running water for about 5 minutes to remove all chemicals. Then mix the wetting agent sachet with 600ml of water and use this as a final rinse for about 1 minute. This helps prevent water spots. Use distilled water for the wetting agent rinse if possible to avoid mineral deposits.
- Dry and store: Hang the film to dry in a dust-free area, using a film clip at the bottom to keep it straight. Once dry, cut into strips and store in protective sleeves. Avoid touching the emulsion side; fingerprints can be difficult to remove.
Ilford Simplicity products that help
- Ilford Simplicity Film Developer - 1 x 60ml: The single 60ml Ilford Simplicity Film Developer sachet develops 2 rolls of 35mm film or 1 roll of 120 film in a 600ml tank at a 1+9 dilution. It's a pre-measured amount, so you don't need to weigh or measure chemicals, making your first developing session straightforward.
Ilford Simplicity Film Developer - 1 x 60ml - Ilford Simplicity Film Developer - 5 Sachets: The Ilford Simplicity Film Developer 5 Sachets pack gives you five individual developer sachets, each containing ILFORD ILFOSOL 3 liquid concentrate. If you plan to develop regularly, the multi-pack saves you from running out after one session and keeps your chemistry consistent.
Ilford Simplicity Film Developer - 5 Sachets - Ilford Simplicity Black and White Film Wetting Agent - 1 x 25ml: The Ilford Simplicity Film Wetting Agent sachet treats up to 16 rolls of 35mm film or 8 rolls of 120 film when mixed with 600ml of water. Using a wetting agent in the final rinse helps prevent watermarks and streaks on your dried negatives, giving you cleaner scans and prints.
