A Strong Partner for Sustainable Development

Module
In
FORC 101
Course Code

Forensic Photography

College of Criminal Justice Education

BS-Crim
 Module No. 7

MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL

PROCESSING

2nd Semester 2022

Sheila Lou G. Pili

Assistant Professor IV
Aika S. Lunado
Instructor I

WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)

 INSTRUCTION TO THE USER

This module would provide you an educational experience while

independently accomplishing the task at your own pace or time. It aims as
well to ensure that learning is unhampered by health and other challenges. It
covers the topic about Forensic Photography.

Reminders in using this module:

1. Keep this material neat and intact.

2. Answer the pretest first to measure what you know and what to be
learned about the topic discussed in this module.
3. Accomplish the activities and exercises as aids and reinforcement for
better understanding of the lessons.
4. Answer the post-test to evaluate your learning.
5. Do not take pictures in any parts of this module nor post it to social
media platforms.
6. Value this module for your own learning by heartily and honestly
answering and doing the exercises and activities. Time and effort were
spent in the preparation in order that learning will still continue
amidst this Covid-19 pandemic.
7. Observe health protocols: wear mask, sanitize and maintain physical
distancing.

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WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)

 Chapter 7

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the chapter, you can:
1. Discover the developing process of a film to negative;
2. Sketch the developing process of a photographic paper to a photograph.

Specific Topics
a) Mechanical and Chemical Processing
b) Time Allotment (4 ½ hours -per session)
Target date to submit

Chapter 7
MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL PROCESSING

MODULE OVERVIEW

This module will cover all the processes needed in developing a photograph, this
includes also the mechanical and chemical processes. Also, this module discusses the
different methods in developing the photographic images; the steps in processing
plates and sheet films by inspection; the time and temperature technique; the stages
in development; other techniques in the use of enlarger; and the digital darkroom.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module the students will be able to:

3. Discover the developing process of a film to negative;
4. Sketch the developing process of a photographic paper to a photograph.

Developing photographic images can be divided into two methods, (1) the
conventional process and (2) the digital process. This chapter provides readers with
the methodology in developing photographic images.

I. Conventional process
The conventional process is also referred to as the traditional method of
developing photographic images which requires a more complex process than the
digital process.

A. Processing the Film

When a film is exposed inside the camera, an invisible image is formed in the
film (latent image). To process this exposed film into a negative, a series of chemical
processing should be done in total darkness or under safelight conditions. There are
two conventional techniques: (1) The inspection and (2) The time and temperature.

WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)

STEPS IN PROCESSING PLATES AND SHEET FILMS BY INSPECTIONS

1. Immerse the plate or film, face-up, in the dish of a developer, making sure that the
solution covers the whole surface at one;
2. Dislodge any air bells from the surface of the emulsion;
3. Rock the dish gently, but not too evenly, all the time;
4. Inspect the negative from time to lifting it out to see the time, image from the
back, if necessary. Keep the dish covered with a card at all other times, and do not
prolong the inspection, especially with fast panchromatic plates;
5. When the development has reached the transfer the film required a point or plate
to a dish of clean water (or with dilute acetic acid) for 1 minute;
6. Transfer the negative to the fixer solution;
7. Rock the fixing dish occasionally, and leave the negative in it for about twice as to
long as the time required to discharge all traces of milkiness from the emulsion
layer;
8. Wash the negatives in running water for at least thirty minutes, or in eight changes
of water of three to five minutes each; and
9. Lift the plates out of the washing water, drain, and stand up on edge in a dust-free
place to dry. Alternatively, stand the plates in a drying rack. sheet film should be
hung up on a line by means of small film clips.
10. Roll films can be developed in a similar way by see-sawing the film through the
developing dish.

TIME AND TEMPERATURE TECHNIQUE

This system is the basis of all modern tank procedures. With amateur tanks,
neither darkroom nor safelights are needed since the tank is light tight and all
operations—except for loading the film--- can be carried out broad in daylight.
Various manufacturers recommend development time and temperature for certain
materials using certain standard developers. This time and temperature are merely
guides or references rather than absolutely correct values. It would be advisable to
follow such instructions, if it would result in low or high contrast, adjustments can be
made to obtain the desired results.

Steps in Using the Developing Tank (The operation should be made in the dark
or using a photographing changing bag.)
1. Prepare the film ends;
2. Feed the film into the beginning of the groove;
3. Gradually push the film into the reel;
4. Detach from backing paper or cassette spool;
5. Put the reel into the tank;
6. Pour the developer into the tank;
7. Agitate as soon as the developer is put into the tank;
8. Develop for the required time;
9. Pour in rinse;
10. Pour in first fixing bath;
11. Pour in second fixing bath (if used);
12. Wash;
13. Remove from the tank; and
14. Hung up the film to dry in a dust-free place.

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 B. PROCESSING/DEVELOPING PRINTS
Process of making the latent image visible and permanent:

1. Preparation of the darkroom, the chemicals, and the enlargers;

2. Sort the negatives and place the selected negative to the film carrier of the enlarger
with the dull side of the negative facing down;
3. Turn off the white light, switch on the red light;
4. Switch the light of the on enlarger;
5. Adjust the easel to the desired size of the photograph and also adjust the dodging
board (if there is) to frame the object to be developed;
6. Focus the lens of the enlarger. It should be done by first setting the lens opening to
its maximum opening (biggest and opening) start adjusting the focus and
magnification of the object. Once the object is set to focus, make some reduction to
the intensity of the light by reducing the lens opening;
7. Switch off the light of the enlarger and make a test strip to establish the correct
exposure;
8. Place the photographic paper on the baseboard and expose for the time suggested
by the test strip after development; and
9. Process the exposed enlargement rinse, following the developer, fixing, washing,
and drying.

STAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT:

1. Development (Use of either D-76, Dektol, or Universal solution)

It is the process necessary for silver halides to reduce the metallic silver.
Factors such as agitation, temperature, concentration, chemicals, and exposure
are considered. Its usual compositions are:

• Elon, Hydroquinone - used as main developing agents

• Sodium Sulfite — as the preservative
• Sodium Carbonate - as an accelerator
• Potassium Bromide - as restrainer or fog preventer

2. Stop bath - It is an intermediate bath between the developer and the acid
fixer which is normally composed of water with a little amount of diluted
acetic acid that serves as a means to prevent contamination between the
developer and the acid fixer.

3. Fixation - It is the process by which all unexposed silver halides are dissolved
or removed from the emulsion surface and making the image more
permanent. The usual composition of an acid fixing solution is the solvent
silver halide known as hypo (sodium an anti-staining agent thiosulfate), like
acetic acid, a preservative like sodium sulfite, and a hardening agent like
potassium alum.

OTHER TECHNIQUES IN THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHING ENLARGER:

Dodging- is the process of eliminating an unwanted portion of the negative during

enlarging.

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Cropping- is the process of omitting an object during the process of enlarging and
printing.
Vignetting - is the gradual fading of the image towards the side through skillful
adjustment on the dodging board.
Dye toning - is the process designed in changing the color tone of the photograph.
Burning-ln - refers to additional exposure on a desired portion of the negative used
for purposes of making a balanced exposure.

Remedial process in cases of defects in the development of a negative:

1. Underdevelopment - intensifier
2. Overdevelopment - reducer
3. Stains - stain remover

II. THE DIGITAL DARKROOM

Different from conventional processing is the concept of Digital processing
where the usual Darkroom process is now in the computer. There are four (4) basic
steps in the processing of digital images through computer and computer software:
(1) capture, (2) downloading, (3) image editing, and (4) printing.

1. Capture — this is the process by which an image is recorded first by a digital

device such as a camera,
scanners or similar gadgets in order to have a digital file of the electronic image.
2. Downloading - Electronic image file is then sent to a computer using a cable, a
dock, or a card reader or itself if it is the scanner attached to the computer.
3. Image editing – this is the process of modifying the picture with the aid of
image-editing software, the picture can be made in a different presentation, a person
may crop, add effects, and do other things before finally deciding to print it.
4. Printing - this is done with the aid of a printer and the use of photographic paper
for printers. An image that was already edited can easily be made visible through the
Usual printing process done in the computer printer.

REFERENCES
Agas, Juan L. (2009). Criminalistics. Wiseman’s Book Trading, Inc. Quezon,
City
Bulan, Ma. Elixabeth C, Magadia, Ma. Elena P. (2017) Workbook on Police
Photography. ChapterHouse Publishing Incorporated Novaliches
Quezon City.
Marsh N. (2014). Forensic Photography: A Practitioner’s Guide. Wiley-
Blackwell ISBN: 9781119975823
Manluosc, Ariel C., Bolante, Raul B., Yang, Bryan T.,(2012) Forensic
Photography Hunts Publishing Center Sampaloc Manila
Villarba, Waynefred H. (2011). Laboratory Manual in Criminalistics 2 (Police
Photography). Wiseman’s Book Trading, Inc. Quezon City
Villarba, Waynefred H.(2006). Forensic Photography for Criminology student
and Practitioners. Wiseman’s Book Trading,Inc. Quezon City
Wankey, Marlon M., Miguel, May V., (2020) Forensic Photography
MindShaper Publishing House Nueva Ecija Central Luzon
Philippines.

WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)

Congratulations for completing this module!

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WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)

 Vision 2020
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WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)