How To Develop Photo Paper With Your Favorite Vintage of Merlot

Around this time last year, we featured a video on developing film using coffee and vitamin C. And now, the folks behind the Caffenol blog (which was named after the nickname given to the “home brew” developer) have put together a video showing that it’s possible to do something similar using red wine instead of coffee and photo paper instead of film.

Just like with the coffee, you’ll need some powdered Vitamin C, washing soda, and access to at least a rudimentary dark room, but assuming you can get all of the above mentioned materials and secure a location, a cheap bottle of crappy Merlot is the final ingredient you need. So what about the results? The wine actually gives the developed paper a reddish brown, vintage look (which you can amplify with some instant coffee) that might very well be a great effect to add to your developing repertoire.