Aggregating my own C41 Chemicals

[Kuby]

Hello,

I'm interested in creating my own c41 colour chemicals, as opposed to buying the tetenal/unicolor, or similar kits. I would like to get away from using blix, as well as lower my costs. Am I correct that this is a good approach/should get me started? (see attached pictures)

I have stab left over from a unicolour powder kit, so for the time being I will just use that. But I suppose in time I will need to buy that separate as well.

I am also somewhat interested in buying the chemicals themselves, in bulk, and mixing myself, but I find that somewhat daunting and am not totally certain how I would approach that beast.

Thoughts?

 

[MattKing]

I have a feeling you really mean that you are putting together your own C41 "kit" from individual, commercially manufactured and pre-made component chemicals, not "creating" your own chemicals.
"Creating" chemicals usually requires laboratory techniques.
It is a great idea - have you seen the sticky thread on just this subject? https://www.photrio.com/forum/index.php?threads/list-of-color-chemicals-and-where-to-get-them.79069/

 

[Kuby]

I have a feeling you really mean that you are putting together your own C41 "kit" from individual, commercially manufactured and pre-made component chemicals, not "creating" your own chemicals.
"Creating" chemicals usually requires laboratory techniques.
It is a great idea - have you seen the sticky thread on just this subject? https://www.photrio.com/forum/index.php?threads/list-of-color-chemicals-and-where-to-get-them.79069/

Correct. Haha. I did take a look at the sticky. I'm a little bit concerned at the huge quantities, though. While I shoot a lot, it's still for personal use, so buying 12L of developer for example seems a bit crazy. Hence why I was looking around at these smaller packages. That said, I just noticed that the kodak developer I have showing up above makes 20L, so maybe I'm missing something. Will these chems last long enough for me to actually use them without going bad? How can I buy commercially manufactured, pre-made component chemicals individually, in quantities that make sense for personal use? In addition, I noticed you are in Canada. I'm in Alberta. Do you have any advice based on our location (where to purchase, etc.)?

 

[MattKing]

I would suggest posting in that sticky thread, because there are a lot of people there who have lots of experience with storage life.
All the colour work I've done is both from a long time ago, and in a commercial lab, so I'm not the best person to ask sourcing questions. It was my understanding that if you have specific Kodak product numbers, Beau Photo in Vancouver can order from the minilab suppliers they use to source other things. Someone recently posted something that contradicts that - I would suggest talking directly to Nicole at Beau.
I have the advantage of living blocks away from a US border crossing, so if product can be ordered for shipping to an address in Washington State, I can get it that way.

 

[Kuby]

Thank you for the suggestion to dig through the sticky one more time. I gave it a good read over and I believe I have figured out what I need to know.