Photographic processing

Conventional photographic films and papers need to be chemically processed after they have been exposed in order to produce the desired negative or positive image. The general process is similar whatever the make of film or paper. The only obvious exceptions are a few proprietary makes such as Polaroid and other instant self-processing techniques; Kodachrome which cannot be processed except in Kodak laboratories. There are also a small number of relatively uncommon processes using dye decomposition technologies such as Cibachrome.

Development does three things: it transforms the latent image into a visible image that can be seen, it makes the visible image permanent and resistant to deterioration with time, and it renders the film insensitive to light.