A Color Monobath Developer Formula

[koraks]

Can I ask what "styrax" is

Most likely a translation artifact. The different versions of the formula appear to be ballpark starting points that should be 'dialed in' to suit a particular type of film.

 

[pentaxuser]

I'm also curious what styrax is. According to search engines, it's a balsamic resin obtained from the cut trunks of trees of the Styrax genus.
But I can't be sure that Google Translate simply made a mistake in translating, or rather OCR reading, the Chinese characters.

Perhaps OP could dispel our doubts.

Thanks If it is the styrax that you mention then you'd imagine that more might have been said about it in the translation

However if we can assume that the "styrax" is a mistranslation and is irrelevant to the process then the whole thing looks just too good to be true. If the colours are all OK and always OK then as I said in my post I am amazed that one of the big colour film companies never came up with this sort of process

pentaxuser

 

[koraks]

if we can assume that the "styrax" is a mistranslation and is irrelevant to the process then the whole thing looks just too good to be true

If there really is "styrax" in there somewhere, is it then not too good to be true?

 

[Alan Johnson]

ChatGPT:

What is Styrax used in Chinese photographic color film developer?

ChatGPT said:​

In Chinese technical literature on color-film processing, the word Styrax (安息香, benzoin resin) refers to a coupler-solvent / gelatin-swelling auxiliary that is added to color negative developer solutions.

Why it is used​

Color film developers (e.g., C-41 type) must allow the color-forming couplers inside the emulsion to move and react evenly with the color developing agent (CD-3 or CD-4). To help this, the developer contains certain organic solvents or “development aids.”
Styrax in this context:

• Improves gelatin swelling, so the developer penetrates the emulsion more uniformly.
• Helps dissolve and mobilize dye-forming couplers, improving color formation.
• Reduces uneven development and improves color density and balance.
• Also has a mild anti-oxidation / preservative effect, extending developer life.

Important distinction​

This is not the perfume-grade “styrax essential oil.”
In film chemistry, Styrax refers to benzoin resin extract containing benzyl benzoate and related aromatic esters, chosen for its solvent and stabilizing properties.

Summary​

Name	Chinese	Role in Color Developer
Styrax (benzoin resin extract)	安息香树脂	Coupler solvent, gelatin swelling aid, improves dye formation and reduces uneven development

 

[lamerko]

It's probably about sodium sulfate in this case...

 

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

ChatGPT:

What is Styrax used in Chinese photographic color film developer?

ChatGPT said:​

In Chinese technical literature on color-film processing, the word Styrax (安息香, benzoin resin) refers to a coupler-solvent / gelatin-swelling auxiliary that is added to color negative developer solutions.

Why it is used​

Color film developers (e.g., C-41 type) must allow the color-forming couplers inside the emulsion to move and react evenly with the color developing agent (CD-3 or CD-4). To help this, the developer contains certain organic solvents or “development aids.”
Styrax in this context:

• Improves gelatin swelling, so the developer penetrates the emulsion more uniformly.
• Helps dissolve and mobilize dye-forming couplers, improving color formation.
• Reduces uneven development and improves color density and balance.
• Also has a mild anti-oxidation / preservative effect, extending developer life.

Important distinction​

This is not the perfume-grade “styrax essential oil.”
In film chemistry, Styrax refers to benzoin resin extract containing benzyl benzoate and related aromatic esters, chosen for its solvent and stabilizing properties.

Summary​

Name	Chinese	Role in Color Developer
Styrax (benzoin resin extract)	安息香树脂	Coupler solvent, gelatin swelling aid, improves dye formation and reduces uneven development

Here is how Gemini translates the segment 显定合一浴配方 (三) :
Integrated Bleaching-Fixing-Developing Bath Formula (III)


If Gemini translation is correct, the mysterious Styrax and Styrax is nothing but incorrect translation of bleaching and fixing.

 

[Alan Johnson]

Where to buy Styrax:

ChatGPT said:​

Short answer:
You won’t usually find Styrax sold as a photographic chemical anymore — you’ll find it sold as resin (storax / benzoin) for incense, perfumery, or traditional medicine. The same material is what was historically used in some Chinese soft-working developers.
What to look for:
The correct item is usually one of the following names:

Name on Label	What It Is	Suitable?	Notes
Storax (Styrax benzoin / Gum Benzoin / 安息香 ān xī xiāng)	Resin used in perfume & incense	Yes	Most commonly used in Chinese developer formulas.
Liquidambar orientalis “Storax”	Similar aromatic resin	Yes	Also acceptable if listed as 自然苏合香.
Styrax “Benzoin Siam” or “Benzoin Sumatra”	Perfume-grade resin granules	Best choice	Generally pure and easy to dissolve in alcohol.

The important part is that you want raw resin, not processed incense sticks.

---

Where to Buy​

Online (International)​

Source	Type	Link / Info
Etsy	Raw benzoin resin granules	Search “benzoin resin Siam” or “storax resin”
eBay	Benzoin resin or storax chunks	Many small-batch sellers
Perfumer Supply House / MakingCosmetics / Eden Botanicals	High-purity perfumery resin	Good if you want consistency
Alibaba / AliExpress	Direct from Chinese resin suppliers	Search: 安息香 原料 or 苏合香 树脂

If You Are in China or Near a Chinatown​

Look in TCM / herbal stores, because the resin is still sold medicinally:

• Ask for: 安息香 (ān xī xiāng) or 苏合香 (sū hé xiāng)
• Usually sold in chunks or powder, very cheap.

Also available on:

• Taobao
• 京东 (JD)
• 一亩三分地 Chinese incense sellers

Search term to use:

安息香 原料
苏合香 树脂

---

How It Was Used in Developers​

Styrax was not a developing agent — it was included for:

• Softening grain appearance
• Restraining fog
• Increasing “glow” in warm-tone papers
• Slight tanning effect in some pyro-like developers

Developers didn’t dissolve it directly in water.
You usually make an alcohol tincture first, then add a few drops to working solution:

1 part benzoin resin
5–10 parts 95% ethanol
Dissolve and filter
Then add ~0.5–2 mL per liter of developer.

 

[MattKing]

Essentially, and to put it in a context that @pentaxuser would be likely to appreciate, Styrax might be used to make your wicket sticky.