Color reversal DESTRUCTION

[johnielvis]

I've got a lot of old home movies on ektachrome and kodachrome film that I've acquired over the years (not mine). Most of these are garbage footage that is just bad and usless for anything. So--what I'd like to do is see if I can repurpose the film by getting rid of the images on them and then maybe doing some fun "draw on the film" stuff or just use it as leader film.

I've heard that if you try to clean color movie film with alcohol it will remove the dyes--so I tried that--DIDN'T WORK--not at all on ektachrome, anyways.

the black and white stuff is easy--just bleach it and clear--but the color dyes--how do I remove them as effectively as a bleach will remove black and white?

Anybody have any unintended "accidents" which maybe I can repurpose to my purpose? Anybody got a dye dissolving formula that I can get over the counter? All suggestions are welcome!

 

[Rudeofus]

I have tried a number of solvents (Ethanol, Methanol, plastic model glue, Acetone), neither dissolved the dye, but quite a few got rid of the entire emulsion, especially Acetone. Since you don't seem to care much for the emulsion anyway, Acetone may be the way to go.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Chlorox could do it as well.

PE

 

[johnielvis]

chlorix--regular bleach--of course--it works for clothes.

I tried a bit on a paper towel and rubbed on the film--I think it was ektachrome...it didn't come off immediately, but with a little back and forth--ZING---clear film! I should have tested just putting film in the bleach and seeing how long it takes to do the job without mechanical rubbing. That's next--I'll put in a piece of known kodachrome and a piece of known ektachrome in a container with bleach and start the timer--once I get the time, it's roll the film on the developing rig and bleach away.

It may be interesting to do some "bucket process" experiments--where the film touches itself--so the bleaching is incomplete in areas--maybe that will provide a nice arthausfilm.

all the possiblities

Thanks all...it's time to work with this and get it down to a system.