Book: The B&W Film Alchemist

The First Book Designed Specifically for Hybrid B&W Film Photographers

If you shoot black and white film but rely on digital tools to scan, edit, and print, this book was written for you.

For years, resources for B&W photographers have catered to darkroom workflows, ignoring the reality of today’s hybrid artists. So I created what didn’t exist:

The first in-depth guide built entirely around the needs of black and white film photographers who scan their negatives.

This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s a technical, practical, and creative guide to mastering B&W film for hybrid output—whether you're scanning to share on social or making gallery-quality inkjet prints.

You’ll learn:

• How to expose film for maximum digital latitude
• Why developer choices change when your end goal is a scan, rather than printing in the darkroom.
• Tonality, grain, and contrast explained for optimized scanned negatives
• How to mix and match emulsions with developers for superior results

You’ll get immediate access to the book in PDF format (128 pages) to view on any device, or print and keep at your workspace.

You will also receive free lifetime updates to the book as I revise its content and add new sections.

Limited-Time Bonus:
Order now and you’ll also receive a free bonus copy of my B&W Developer Formula Book ($49 value)—a comprehensive companion reference packed with verified chemical recipes, usage notes, and developer profiles optimized for hybrid workflows.

Table of Contents

Part I — The Hybrid Mindset
Chapter 1: Why Shoot B&W Film in a Digital Age?
Chapter 2: Exposure Strategies for Scanning
Chapter 3: Metering for Detail and Dynamic Range
Chapter 4: Choosing Film for Hybrid Output

Part II — Emulsion Behavior
Chapter 5: Grain: Perception, Size, and Digital Amplification
Chapter 6: Tonality and Curve Profiles
Chapter 7: Contrast Characteristics in a Scanning Workflow
Chapter 8: Curl, Flatness, and Handling for Scanners

Part III — Developer Chemistry
Chapter 9: Developer Categories and How They Shape Negatives
Chapter 10: Solvent vs. Acutance Developers for Scanning
Chapter 11: Push Strategies and Developer Choices
Chapter 12: Two-Bath and Compensating Approaches
Chapter 13: Pyro Developers: Are They Worth It for Scanning?

Part IV — Film Profiles (Scan-Optimized)

- Ilford Pan F Plus 50
- Ilford Delta 100
- Ilford FP4 Plus 125
- Ilford HP5 Plus 400
- Ilford Delta 400
- Ilford Delta 3200
- Kodak T-Max 100
- Kodak T-Max 400
- Kodak Tri-X 400
- Kodak T-Max P3200
- Fuji Acros 100II
- Kentmere Pan 100
- Kentmere Pan 400
- Kentmere Pan 200
- Foma Fomapan Classic 100

Part V — Advanced Techniques
Chapter 15: Push and Pull Development for Scanning
Chapter 16: Stand and Semi-Stand for Tonality Control
Chapter 17: Managing Grain Through Chemistry
Chapter 18: Mixing Custom Developer Dilutions

Appendices
Appendix A: Developer Cheat Sheet (Dilutions, Times, Temperatures)
Appendix B: Sample Histogram Scan Outputs
Appendix C: Film Curl/Flatness Index
Appendix D: Developing Pairing Index by Film
Appendix E: Recommended Development Times for Scan-Optimized Negatives
Appendix F: Glossary of Terms

You can download the full table of contents in PDF format.

Bonus: B&W Film Developer Formulas
31 pages of detailed black and white film developer formulas, guidance, and tips on optimizing your film and developer combination to meet your creative and technical goals.

Why This Book is Different

• Created specifically for photographers who scan—not print in a darkroom
• Covers all the popular black and white films and developers used today
• Prioritizes repeatability, flexibility, and image quality in digital output
• Based on decades of analog photography and chemistry experience

Buy now and get immediate access to the PDF book and you also get lifetime updates for free.