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The 1800's
Alfred Harman
1879 founded by Alfred Harman making Dry Plates
1891 became the Britannia Works Company making 4 kinds of plates and 6 kinds of paper
1897 record profits
1897 sold by Alfred Harman who retired due to ill health
1898 became known as The Britannia Works (1898) Limited
1899 first Ilford Manual of Photography
1900 to 1940
1902 changed name to Ilford Limited
1912 Ilford started to produce roll films
1920 Selo Limited formed incorporating Ilford, Imperial, Gem and Amalgam...
This guide focuses on the photo chemicals you can use for processing film. We also have a guide to processing film as well as some handy tips on loading a developing spiral.
Choosing photo chemicals
We have a range of photo chemicals designed to give different results with our films and papers. The choice of stop bath and fixer is limited but we have several film developers you can use.
Film developers come in either liquid and powder concentrate form and have a range of attributes. Some developers giv...
ILFORD PHOTO offer the biggest range of black & white films on the market today. While this is perfect for experienced film photographers who love having a choice, we appreciate that it can be a bit confusing for people new to film photography.
If you are looking to try film photography for the first time and are wondering where to start, then you have come to the right place.
We should start by pointing out that there is no ‘wrong’ choice when it comes to ILFORD films. They are all fantastic,...
Processing your own film can speed up your workflow and give you quicker access to your negatives. It is also typically more cost effective and best of all there is nothing like the sense of satisfaction you will gain by taking control over the full end-to-end process of your photography.
While trying it for the first time might be a daunting prospect, fear not. Below is our guide on what equipment, chemistry and method would be suitable for anyone new to processing films. For more detail, you can downlo...
What are paper developers?
Paper developers allow the latent exposed image to become visible to the naked eye and form part of a processing workflow along with a stop bath and fixer. Read our guides, for more information on picking the right paper for you or which chemistry to choose
When shopping for photo chemicals always check the application. We produce a range of photo chemicals including stop baths, fixers, toners, wetting agents as well as paper and film developers. Film developers are speci...
Choosing Photo Chemicals
We have a range of photo chemicals for printing/processing all of our resin coated and fibre base papers in trays/dishes as well as in processing machines.
If you are new to printing the choice could appear excessive yet each liquid or powder paper developer has its purpose or strengths. For an overview of the whole range and what they do we have pulled together an introductory overview. If you are a beginner* and wondering where to get started then read on.
*While thi...
All ILFORD Inspires content has a common goal: To inspire people to try traditional analogue black and white photography by showcasing the power and potential of this highly creative medium.
New York Silver Stories
Working with the talented team at Exploredinary, this series features four short documentaries telling the stories of silver gelatin darkroom printers in New York City.
The Bronx Documentary Center - Turning Negatives into Positives
Founded by Michael Kamber, the BDC is a non-profit aimed at ...
Technical downloads relating to the ILFORD PHOTO film photography product range.
All tested processing times for our range of ILFORD and Kentmere black and white films alongside our ILFORD liquid and powder processing chemicals.
Film Processing Chart
Film developing and darkroom printing both require that the negatives or prints be adequately washed to ensure longevity of the images. This short documents covers some methods for reducing the amount of wash water used whilst ensuring that your negative...
Introduction
I’ve been a photographer for 35 years since I was 11 in fact when I first loaded my Zenith 11 with film and set off for a walk into the wilds of South Yorkshire. 20 years later I turned professional and as soon as digital became a viable option I traded in my Nikon F90x and Mamiya 645 pro for a Nikon digital kit. Digital was for me always a triumph of convenience over real quality in those early years and not much else. It wasn’t until Canon brought out the 5D series that I found myself ...
An appreciation of Ilford FP4
The greatest pleasures can be taken from the simplest of things. An appreciation of something old that gets passed by while everyone tries to keep up with the crowd or the relentless progression of technology. For me Ilford’s FP4 is one of those little pleasures.
The RAF
I was a photographer in the Royal Air Force from 1986 -1995. At my RAF unit we had little choice of film stock. It was FP4 and HP5 for black and white. Being stationed at a headquarters unit mean...