Dye-bath sensitizing modern films?

I know this has been asked before, but I can't find it.

Can modern films be sensitized by soaking them in a bath of dye solution, as published in some old literature? I came across some info while reading about old IR films last night, and figured that it might be interesting to try.

Anybody tried this or have some answers?

Are you talking about hypersensitizing a film? Modern films are already sensitized.

No - I know that that's pretty much a no go. There [at least used to] be a way to take ortho or blue-sensitive films and dip them in fora dye bath to sensitize for red or infrared.

htmlguru4242 said:

No - I know that that's pretty much a no go. There [at least used to] be a way to take ortho or blue-sensitive films and dip them in fora dye bath to sensitize for red or infrared.

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Well, think about it, for some reason most current B&W film are sensitive to red light already, some special ones even to IR ....

Basically it's possible but you need that expensive dye, make an apt solution in proper solvent, dip the film, not knowing about the proper time, the drying conditions, the interaction with the film dyes, the adverse effects on other elements in the film...

Sure, IR and red sensitive films are available, but IR ones are expensive, and there's no spirit of experimentation involved.

Some IR dyes, such as neocyanine, are quite cheap, especially considering how little the old literature says is needed.

I have a ton of X-Ray film hanging around, so I'm thinking that it may be worthwhile to experiment with IR-sensitizing it.

Aside from that, it's fun and educational to re-invent the wheel sometimes ...

If you can get the dye, and already have lots of film to experiment with, I would say go for it! Let us know how it works out.

I've thought of a project for my long term do list, to buy some blue sensitive X-ray film, which I believe has no sensitizing dyes added, and use Erythrosin B to make it orthochromtic. I know where to get the dye, and like you say, it might be fun. I can buy green sensitive X-ray film that is more or less orthochromatic already, but Erythrosin B should make it sensitive into the orange part of the spectrum, with a 'hole' in the blue-green, which I probably don't need anyway.

Erythrosin B - it's dirt cheap

http://chemicals.citychemical.com/i...25?&plpver=10&origin=keyword&by=prod&filter=0