C-41 Processing

Hey now all. I'm just getting back into photography after a few years off, I'm glad to see there's a big community here dedicated to film.

So I've got a couple of old rolls of BW400CN lying around and I'd like to learn how to process C-41 film, just for the experience and the knowledge - I'm experienced with standard B&W developing, but I've never done C-41. I've googled around a bit and I haven't been able to find anything definitive on chemicals and the process.

So I turn to you: what chemicals do I need? What is the process/how does it differ from standard B&W?

Any help is much appreciated. Cheers.

Look in the color chemistry thread. You can find my posts on alternative C-41 and E-6 and plenty of information on commercial 3-rd party and Kodak chemistry. The most readily available third party chemistry (for US residents) is probably through Freestyle sales. Processing C-41 is nearly as easy as processing B&W with the added need to closely control developer temperature at 100F, for 3-1/2 minutes. Printing the negatives is another matter entirely. In my opinion the skill level to print color matches that of a good B&W printer although the details are quite different.

Order the C41 Press kit from B&H. You mix them from powder to form your chemicals. That's the best way to get started. With B+W chromogenic films you do not have to process at full temperature, nor as accurately (the temperature effects properties of the relations between colors, not applicable if dealing with B+W film.) There are instructions inside/times for processing down to 74 degrees IIRC.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Hope that helps. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Beware that in the powder/solid kit that the so called "blix" may lead to desaturated colors and coarser grain. Please look at other posts than mine in this regard.

PE