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Color Film Laboratory.. How to Process Images.. Book of Photography

How to Process Images
Color Film Laboratory

A laboratory suitable for black and white requires some additional equipment to allow the processing of color films. In particular, a set of filters for adding or deleting - or a magnifying head equipped with filters - and a photo-processing cylinder. Among the other necessary and useful pieces: a safety filter for illumination that has no chemical effect, a fluorescent light similar to daylight (neon) to judge the quality of colors, special processing chemicals, basins and flasks, a pair of rubber gloves (for working with chemicals), a pair of non-lint gloves (for working with negative films). A timer and a thermometer are also necessary. The laboratory must be well ventilated because chemicals emit fumes. Since a significant part of the processing is done in the dark or under soft light that has no chemical effect, it is useful for us to adopt a scientific arrangement of materials according to the available space.

Color film processing:

Processing color film is more complicated than processing black and white film. There are many types of films and several types of treatments that we cannot always do ourselves. For films that allow us to do this, the treatment varies in the number of chemical solutions, the temperature and the duration of the passage in the baths.

When you decide which method to use, read carefully the instructions for use. You will find a complete description of the treatment as well as the precautions that must be taken to obtain satisfactory results: these instructions must be followed literally.

Depending on the method, the processing temperature ranges between 24 and 40°C, which is higher than the temperature used for black and white. For some solutions, this temperature must be maintained precisely, i.e. -4/1 degree. The best way to achieve this is, of course, to store the solutions in a water bath. The water bath container containing the water at the required temperature must be large enough to accommodate the development tank and the bottles.

Negative films are usually processed according to the following stages: homogeneous development, bleaching and fixation. This final stage is followed by another wash and a final bath to fix the final color. As for the reversible films (positive), they require several additional stages in the beginning of the processing, including developing in black and white, then the film is blocked either by light or chemically. The rest of the processing is similar to the processing of the negative film. After each processing, it is necessary to clean all the tools well to remove all traces of chemicals.

- Processing the color film:

- Prepare the film (see page 187) Prepare the solutions at the required temperatures. Pour the developer into the basin.

- Place the basin in the water bath to maintain the temperature of the developer. Shake the film according to the instructions.

- After developing, expose the reversible films to light again. Expose the surface of the film, which should remain wet.

- Continue processing according to the instructions (color development for positive films. Homogeneous bleaching / fixing, etc.)

- Wash the film with running water according to the required temperature.

- Pass the film through a regulator if necessary. Do not squeeze it, but let it dry naturally.