Tray development is a photographic processing method in which film or prints are developed in open trays rather than in tanks or other enclosed apparatus. Each chemical solution-developer, stop bath, and fixer-is poured into separate trays, allowing the photographer to manually agitate and control the development process.
Photographers use tray development for flexibility, hands-on control, and the ability to process individual prints or sheets of film. Mastering this method allows for careful adjustment of exposure, contrast, and tonality, making it a preferred technique in darkroom printing and experimental photography.