To develop a roll of film and make negatives for printing, it is necessary to strip the film's exposed silver halides. Usually, this is done with conventional developing solutions. Since the developer is the primary ingredient in the process, a lot of it is used. Unfortunately, the developer is one of the most problematic chemicals used in photography. It's awful for the environment, and it can be expensive. It smells pretty nasty, too. (Fixer, a chemical used later in the process to preserve the negatives, has similar issues, but it won't be covered in this article.) Developing solutions are even worse after they've been used. Most of the silver halides from the film are washed away in the developer (some are left over until the stop bath), leaving you with a chemical that you can't just toss in the yard. To get rid of used developer, it has to be stored until it can be taken for hazardous waste disposal. Before I learned all this, I was used to tossing my bucket of chemicals into the soil in my backyard.
It was pretty close to a storm drain, too. Not all that cool. It would be great to have a developing solution that could be thrown out the window, but even Caffenol won't get us that far (ugh, silver!). Using it as an alternative developer, however, will reduce the nastiness and eye-burning odor a bit. Even better, it's cheap! You don't often see greener options that are cheaper than their nasty counterparts. Caffenol is a developer consisting of only washing soda (which is used commonly as a laundry detergent), coffee crystals (like Instant Folgers), and sometimes vitamin C (for making Caffenol-C). It replaces the commercial developing chemical in developing black and white film. It was introduced seventeen years ago by Dr. Scott Williams and his class at the Rochester Institute of Technology when he experimented with his class to find a household developer. After reading a bit about Caffenol, I followed the instructions on the Photojojo blog (link below), so the steps here are based off of their methods and tips from some helpful photographers at the printing lab.
Note: Every photograph in this article, with the exception of three stock images, is shot in black-and-white and developed with Caffenol-C. //Step 1: Collecting and Prepping SuppliesShow All ItemsGATHERINGFrom the photo store:From the hardware store: (not baking soda) From under the sink:PREPPINGCaffenol-Cstep five FixerBath« PreviousNext »View All Steps DownloadPycnogenol is a trademarked name for pine bark extract, and there is little to no difference between the two in terms of composition or effects. You might use pine bark extract or pycnogenol to help treat a variety of medical conditions, including chronic venous insufficiency, retinopathy or erectile dysfunction. Before you take pycnogenol or pine bark extract, consult your doctor to discuss the proper dosage and potential health risks. French marine pine bark extract is commonly sold under the name pycnogenol. It is used to prevent and treat chronic venous insufficiency, as well as several other medical conditions, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Pycnogenol essentially contains pine bark extract from the Pinus maritima tree. The herbal remedy is sometimes also called French maritime pine bark extract, pygenol or oligomeric proanthocyanidin (OPC). Pine bark extract and pycnogenol contain OPCs, also called procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs), which are also found in grape seed extract, reports the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). OPCs appear to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral and antimicrobial actions and might act to stimulate your immune system, protect against atherosclerosis and prevent certain types of cancers, according to the Sloan-Kettering. They may also help in treating high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, various inflammation-related conditions and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as help in preventing cancer, notes Sloan-Kettering. Pycnogenol and pine bark extract could help treat easy bruising, varicose veins, edema, diabetes and diabetic neuropathy or retinopathy, hemorrhoids, premenstrual syndrome and traveler’s thrombosis, according to the UPMC.
You might take pine bark extract or pycnogenol to help support weight loss and improve night vision, as well as to treat lupus, menopausal symptoms, periodontal disease, asthma, allergies and liver cirrhosis. No conclusive scientific research supports the use of pycnogenol or pine bark extract to prevent or treat any medical condition, however. You might take a dosage of pine bark extract or pycnogenol that provides 150 to 300 mg of OPCs per day, advises UPMC. Pine bark extract typically comes in the forms of liquids, tablets or capsules containing 85 to 90 percent OPCs or proanthocyanidins, or in the forms of creams, lotions or ointments containing 0.5 to 2 percent pine bark extract. To help treat chronic venous insufficiency, the typical dosage of pine bark extract is 45 to 360 mg daily, taken in three separate doses. Follow the dosage instructions on the label for pycnogenol. Ask your doctor about the dosage that’s right for you before taking either pine bark extract or pycnogenol, however.
Pine bark extract and pycnogenol can cause fatigue and irritability in people with ADHD, and they may also interact negatively with chemotherapy drugs and immunosuppressants like cyclosporine, warns the Sloan-Kettering. You should also avoid taking pine bark extract while taking blood-thinners like Coumadin, due to increased bleeding risks. Pycnogenol and pine bark extract may cause side effects like upset stomach and nausea. Also, if you have hypertension, taking OPCs along with a vitamin C supplement could increase your blood pressure. What Is Pycnogenol Good For? Adverse Effects of Pine Bark Extract French Maritime Pine Bark Extract Side Effects Pine Bark Extract Benefits What Are the Dangers of Pycnogenol? Grape Seed Extract & Testosterone What Is OPC 3? What Is the Difference Between Resveratrol & Grape Seed Extract? Grape Seed Extract and Skin Benefits How Much L-Arginine Can You Take per Day? What Does OPC-3 Isotonix Do?