C41 one shot processing

alanrockwood · Apr 5, 2015

Is it practical to use C41 developer as a on-shot developer? Is so, then how? Does one dilute the developer and run the development longer?

sagai · Apr 5, 2015

I am interested too!

Rudeofus · Apr 5, 2015

David Lyga posted some very promising results a while back (there was a url link here which no longer exists).

Photo Engineer · Apr 5, 2015

I do it regularly with no change to the process. Our research scale test are all one shot.

PE

alanrockwood · Apr 5, 2015

Photo Engineer said:
I do it regularly with no change to the process. Our research scale test are all one shot.

PE

How about the cost of the developer? I understand that in a replenishment machine the main cost is the bleach, or is it the fix? How much does discarding the developer after one shot affect the overall cost if one is saving the bleach and fix?

Dr Croubie · Apr 5, 2015

I think the OP wanted to dilute and one-shot, specifically to save money.
You can one-shot any chemical at full strength and just ditch it afterwards, but that's just wasting more money...

alanrockwood · Apr 5, 2015

Dr Croubie said:
I think the OP wanted to dilute and one-shot, specifically to save money.
You can one-shot any chemical at full strength and just ditch it afterwards, but that's just wasting more money...

Yes, the idea of diluting would be to save money.

Photo Engineer · Apr 5, 2015

You cannot dilute and use one-shot. The dilution changes the chemical concentration of essential ingredients and will give bad results.

You can re use the bleach, fix and final rinse and you can regenerate the bleach by the means shown here on APUG time and again! The most expensive chemical is the bleach and the least is the fix. The fix is like a non-hardening B&W fix and can be used for B&W for that matter.

Using developer one-shot is no big deal except for cost. But, I develop quite a few rolls of 35 mm in a liter of developer on my Jobo. In fact, I join several tanks together. It is heavy but it works and the developer goes into oblivion after one use.

PE

bvy · Apr 5, 2015

I buy C-41 developer and starter from Unique Photo. I estimate the 600ml of working developer I need to develop two 35mm rolls or one 120 roll costs me just over one dollar. This is nothing compared to sending it to a lab (hell, it costs more than that just to ship it one way), and so I use it one shot. Actually, I do reclaim the developer and will keep it around for a while. I may use it a second time for cross-processing or non-critical stuff. But at this price, I'd rather not take on the hassle and risk of continually pumping film through the same developer. I know some people do it with great results, but I like consistency and peace of mind.

alanrockwood · Apr 5, 2015

Photo Engineer said:
You cannot dilute and use one-shot. The dilution changes the chemical concentration of essential ingredients and will give bad results.

PE

That's what I was afraid of. My machine (Phototherm) does not save developer.

Sirius Glass · Apr 5, 2015

How about one shot one liter of chemicals with 12 to 16 rolls of film?

C41 one shot processing

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