Can I process color paper with c-41 chemistry?

lzidaric

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Nov 12, 2017

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• Nov 12, 2017

• #1

I've been searching all over for an answer to this question and I simply can't find a good answer... I've heard of films being processed in RA-4, but nothing about paper in C-41...
Is it just a stupid question or simply an unfavorable method? It probably doesn't yield optimal color schemes, but homemade prints are supposed to be a rarity these days, so why not experiment?

Will be chuffed to hear any tips

 

Rudeofus

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• Nov 12, 2017

• #2

RA-4 uses CD-3 as color developer vs. CD-4 in C-41, so the differences are more than just pH and restrainer. Speaking of restrainer: photographic paper is usually made from a mix of Silver Chloride and Silver Bromide, therefore RA-4 CD contains a mix of chloride and bromide as restrainer. Photographic film, on the other side, is made from a mix of Silver Bromide and Silver Iodide, and C-41 CD matches that by using bromide and iodide as restrainer.

You will get color images, but not necessarily archivally stable and correct ones.

 

pentaxuser

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• Nov 12, 2017

• #3

Give it a try,Izidaric, and let us see your prints
pentaxuser

 

darkroommike

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• Nov 13, 2017

• #4

Once upon a time...I used a product called Photocolor/then Photocolor II which could process both C-41 and color print paper but you had to use an additive to make the film developer a paper developer. Worked pretty well as I recall. I still have the tiny graduate that came with the kit.
https://www.photomemorabilia.co.uk/PhotoTechnology/Photocolor_II.html

 

trendland

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• Nov 13, 2017

• #5

Yes you definitivly can.The question to this method is : What do you expect as result?
Fine Art prints are obviously not your intention.
Is it somewere in the direction of experimental use - for example like cross processing with E6?
To other intentions I would agree with
Rudeofus - it is possible unrealistic to have right colors,contrast, because of different chem. design.
with regards

 

Young He

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• Nov 20, 2017

• #6

It is quite possible, although the archival-ness is a matter of concern, as others have stated before me, due to the differences in color couplers. As with RA-4 the picture is fully developed, overdeveloping the layers slightly will not do anything. This means that RA-4 can be done at room temperature and with c-41 chemicals might give a workable image. I have developed color film with RA-4 chemicals and the reproduced colors were not absolute crap, although I might have mixed the chemicals wrong.