Why do photographers work in low light when they develop film?
Actually when you develop film you have to work in total darkness (at least until you get the film into the developing tank). Film (even B&W film) is sensitive to all light across the colour spectrum, therefore if it gets exposed to light whilst you’re taking it out of the canister or loading onto a developing reel, it will ruin your images. Once the film is in a light-tight developing tank, then the adding chemicals & rinsing can be done in daylight, as the tank has a special lid that allows liquids to be poured in/out without the light getting in. When photographers make paper prints from the developed negatives, they usually use a red ‘safe’ light (for B&W prints). The paper used for printing B&W prints is not sensitive to red light, so it will not react.
