Develop Ilford XP2 using Standard Black and White Chemistry

Prepared by Dean Chartier

All film that can be developed in C41 chemistry can be developed using standard black and white chemistry, Ilford XP2 Super 400 works best with this process as the film does not have the orange masking that standard color film has. This allows the Ilford XP2 Super 400 to be developed and printed in a traditional darkroom setting with relative ease. The results are incredibly fine grained images that tend to be a little contrasty. 

Color films (with the orange mask) processed as black and white scan well, but are more difficult to print in a darkroom.

The basis for this process is rooted in Kodak Technical Data for Color Films AE-31.

Why Use C41 Chromogenic Black and White Film?

• Convenience of either standard process or C41 process.

• If darkroom availability or time is limited, for instance while travelling, any C41 lab can process film quickly with excellent results. 

• If there are particularly valuable photographs on a roll where enhanced archival properties are desired, film development using the standard black and white process is possible.

• If printing the images in a traditional darkroom is planned, film development using the standard black and white process is recommended.

• The results of tests developing and scanning Ilford XP2 Super 400 using both processes are shown below.

Standard Black and White Process

• Silver on the film is retained, thereby increasing the archival properties of the film. 

• C41 chemicals are removed from the film during the standard black and white process resulting in a relatively clear negative. There is a slightly purple hue to the film base on Ilford XP2 Super 400 which doesn’t impact printing in a traditional darkroom setting.

• Results are incredibly fine grained images with slightly elevated contrast.

C41 Process

• All silver is removed from the film during the BLIX stage of the C41 process. 

• The images on the film are the result of dyes on the film activated during the C41 development process. This is the same for all C41 films, chromogenic black and white or color.  The resulting negatives are dark and more difficult to print in a traditional darkroom.

• Results in excellent image quality, however C41 films do not have good archival properties as the dyes on the film will fade over time.

Film Scanning

• All C41 film scans well regardless of the process used to develop the film, most modern film scanners compensate for the darker negatives produced by the C41 process. Ilford XP2 Super 400 produces excellent results using either method.

Would you like a printable pdf of this process? Click here.