Welcome to the most comprehensive collection of resources ever created for film photographers working in the digital age.
Based on over four decades of film and darkroom experience, I’ve created the most comprehensive resources available to help hybrid photographers master film, development, scanning, and digital darkroom editing. Each guide includes beautifully designed printable books, reference charts, and quick-start PDFs—supported by detailed 4K videos that bring the entire process to life.
The Ultimate Guide Series is currently in active development. It will take me at least a full year and possibly a little longer to complete the entire series. I should have all the guides completed by the end of 2026.
If you would like to be notified as I release each new guide in this series, sign up for my newsletter directly below.
Every guide includes:
- A comprehensive, beautifully designed PDF book
- Quick reference charts for common workflows
- Printable development, scanning, and editing cheat sheets
- And immersive 4K videos that visually bring the process to life
From choosing the right film and developer combo, to achieving optimal density for scanning, to post-processing with intention—this series is your trusted reference at every step of the hybrid workflow.
Whether you’re just starting out or refining an established process, you’ll find accurate, real-world-tested information that empowers you to consistently produce beautiful, expressive images—from 35mm to 8×10.
The First Book Designed Specifically for Hybrid Black and White Film Photographers
If you shoot black and white film and use digital tools to scan, edit, and print, this book was written for you.
15 films × 35 developer recipes from XTOL to ABC Pyro. Exposure → Scan → Print, fully calibrated.
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 be hard-pressed to find another resource that goes this deep into the hybrid black-and-white film, scan, and edit workflow—written for working photographers.
You’ll learn:
- Master B&W end-to-end—15 films, 35 developer recipes, proven exposure, development, scanning, and printing.
- 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 (154 pages) to view on any device, and you get free updates for life.
If you work hybrid, this is the handbook I wish I’d had—practical, repeatable, and deeper than anything I’ve seen elsewhere.
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.
Ultimate B&W Film Guides
Whether you’re shooting HP5, Tri-X, Portra, Delta, Acros, or any of the most popular black & white and color films available today, the Ultimate B&W Film Guides go beyond box speed and development charts. Each guide is crafted to help you make intentional decisions that align with your creative vision—before, during, and after exposure.
The guides are currently under development. If you would like to be notified as I release each new guide in this series, sign up for my newsletter directly below.
Ultimate Color Film Guides
Whether you’re shooting Portra, Ektar, or Ektachrome, the Ultimate Color Film Guides go beyond box speed and development charts. Each guide is crafted to help you make intentional decisions that align with your creative vision—before, during, and after exposure.
Ultimate Developer Guides
I’ve created detailed Developer Guides—covering trusted formulas like D-76, HC-110, XTOL, Rodinal, DD-X, and Pyrocat HD—so you understand how dilution, development time, and agitation directly influence your negatives’ tonal range, grain structure, and scanning performance.
The guides are currently under development. If you would like to be notified as I release each new guide in this series, sign up for my newsletter directly below.
Ultimate Digital Darkroom Guides
Whether you’re working with beautifully scanned black-and-white negatives, color negatives, or slide film, the Ultimate Digital Darkroom Guides help you translate your analog captures into expressive final images. Each guide walks you through the complete editing workflow—tailored specifically for scanned film—so you can shape tones, manage grain, refine contrast, and correct color while honoring the unique character of each film stock.
From tonal control in black & white to color fidelity in C-41 and the delicate contrast of E-6, these guides give you the tools to confidently finish your images with intention in the digital darkroom.
Ready to go deeper with your photography? – Join the Darkroom Diary Premium Membership—a creative refuge for film photographers working with 35mm, medium format, or large format. Whether you’re scanning and sharing or crafting fine art prints, you’ll find expert guidance, meaningful conversation, and a supportive community focused on vision, process, and emotional impact. Join today and start creating work that truly matters.
