Development Chart

Cypher25

SO-078 · Declassified Instrumentation Film

🎞 Self-developing reference

Film Background

Cypher25 is a declassified Kodak Special Order black-and-white instrumentation film, produced on a durable ESTAR polyester base and originally designed for Cold War–era surveillance and scientific imaging. With an effective speed around ISO 25–32, it offers ultra-fine grain, exceptional sharpness, and a unique tonal response that recalls the legendary Panatomic-X while incorporating Kodak’s later T-grain technology. The result is a rare film that excels in bright daylight, studio flash, and any situation where resolution and subtle tonal separation are paramount.

Development Times

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Developer	Dilution	ISO	Development Time	Temp	Agitation	Notes / Results
D-76 / ID-11	1:1	25–32	9.5 min	20°C (68°F)	Standard	Neutral tonality, excellent shadow detail, very fine grain
D-76 / ID-11	Stock	25–32	7.5 min	20°C (68°F)	Standard	Balanced tones, slightly higher contrast than 1:1
HC-110	1:31 (Dil. B)	32	7 min	20°C (68°F)	Standard	Crisp, snappy contrast with strong edge sharpness; Panatomic-X–like rendering
HC-110	1:63 (Dil. H)	32	13 min	20°C (68°F)	Gentle	Smoother tonal scale, slightly lower contrast, excellent highlight control
Rodinal	1:50	25	11 min	20°C (68°F)	Standard	Increased grain presence with razor-sharp edges; high acutance look
XTOL	1:1	32	8.5 min	20°C (68°F)	Standard	Full midtones, smooth gradation, very clean negatives

These times are recommended starting points for fresh chemistry. Variations in exposure, developer age, agitation, and scanning workflow may affect your final results. Cypher25 is a unique Cold War–era emulsion, so testing a short roll in your preferred workflow is strongly encouraged.

Every roll from Anderson Island Films ships with its own development chart — a small way to keep the craft of self-developing alive. Explore the film shop →

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