Development by Inspection

Although it is apparent that the development of fi lm by time and temperature is here to stay, this was not always the case. Even after the discovery of time and temperature development, development by inspection remained the method of choice for most professionals well into the 1930s. The reason was that many photographers learned their craft using material that was hand-coated or manufactured under loose tolerances and its sensitivity varied greatly. In order to ensure usable negatives, photographers had to develop by inspection. Even as more sensitive plates and fi lms became available along with consistent mechanized manufacturing processes, many photographers steadfastly refused to give up the tried-and-true practice of development by inspection.