What is the first step in film processing?

The first step in film processing is developing. This step involves immersing the exposed film in a developing solution, which reduces the exposed silver halide crystals to metallic silver. This creates the image on the film. The development process is crucial as it transforms the latent image formed on the film during exposure into a visible one.

Following the development, the film typically goes through additional steps such as fixing, rinsing, and drying, which are essential for stabilizing and preserving the image, but the initial transformation of the image occurs during the developing stage. Understanding this sequence is vital for anyone involved in film processing, as each step builds upon the previous one to ensure a quality final image.