C-41 Developer color change

JakeMelara · Jan 28, 2017

Is it normal for the developer to change colors after use? I recently tried to develop my own film for the first time and after I poured the developer back into the bottle I noticed the color changed from a clear-ish yellow to more of a clear-ish red. Is this normal? Can I reuse the developer for future film?

Anon Ymous · Jan 28, 2017

Yes, you can. The colour change might be less dramatic in few hours and to a large extent is caused by dyes leaching out of the film during development.

JakeMelara · Jan 28, 2017

Anon Ymous said:
Yes, you can. The colour change might be less dramatic in few hours and to a large extent is caused by dyes leaching out of the film during development.

Thank you so much!

bvy · Jan 28, 2017

If you prewash your film, the result might be less dramatic, but after five to ten uses, expect the color of the developer to be almost black -- especially if you're developing different types of film. Always do a clip test before processing to make sure your developer is still viable.

Sirius Glass · Jan 28, 2017

Due to the dyes I would expect the chemistry to show color changes caused by the film dyes shed in the processing.

Gerald C Koch · Jan 28, 2017

bvy said:
If you prewash your film, the result might be less dramatic, but after five to ten uses, expect the color of the developer to be almost black -- especially if you're developing different types of film. Always do a clip test before processing to make sure your developer is still viable.

You should never prewash when using C-41. To do so will interfere with the correct time for the process which must be spot on for best results. The results will be negatives that are thinner than they should be.

bvy · Jan 29, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
You should never prewash when using C-41. To do so will interfere with the correct time for the process which must be spot on for best results. The results will be negatives that are thinner than they should be.

That's not been my experience, and I've processed a hundred or more films this way. I started this based on the recommendation of PE and others here. But prewashing is a religious topic, and I'm not trying to convert anyone. Do it if it works for you, and don't if it doesn't.

Sirius Glass · Jan 29, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
You should never prewash when using C-41. To do so will interfere with the correct time for the process which must be spot on for best results. The results will be negatives that are thinner than they should be.

Prewashing is import for C-41 processing. It adjusts the film temperature to the be the same as the chemicals which follow. PE is the man for this subject and he has spoken.

RPC · Jan 29, 2017

I think the usefulness of a prewet for C-41 has a lot to do with the actual process you use. Machines do not use a prewet and achieve good results. I use a small tank with no pre-wet and with the way I use to process and adjust the temp, I still get in-spec results. If one pours the developer into the tank, you will likely benefit from one (I drop the reel of film into the tank of developer). A rotary processor should have one to prevent streaking and stabilze the temp.

BMbikerider · Jan 29, 2017

I have seen various colours from development in C41 chemicals ranging from dark green (Original Agfa) to a gentle pink (Todays Fuji/Agfa/Kodak). I have always thought it to be the antihalation layer washing out and never bothered with it. Fuji in particular even after bleaching and fixing will still stain the rinsing water light pink even after several changes of water following each 30 second rinse period, but usually by the 6th change the water comes out clear. However the stabilising bath will after a period of use also take on a pink tinge.

Gerald C Koch · Jan 29, 2017

If you look at Kodak's directions there is no mention of a prewash. I would tend to believe Kodak over what others say. But as far as the original question the dyes are not going to hurt anything. Live with them!

Photo Engineer · Jan 29, 2017

The color is:

1. Trimmer dyes to get the exact speeds from all of the layers.
2. Acutance dyes to improve sharpness.
3. Some of the sensitizing dyes.

And a prewet does not hurt and actually helps to bring the equipment up to temperature.

The prewet does pretty much remove the dyes.

PE

C-41 Developer color change

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