I haven't developed E6 for a couple of years, prior to that I did about 25 - 30 rolls a year for about 15 years
C41 I have been developing for about 20 years. With both films I have never done a pre-soak or pre-wash. Having worked in a commercial pro-lab, I never once saw any evidence of either of these things. Also I have never seen in any high street mini-lab, a pre-soak or pre-wash, so I'm not entirely convinced it is a requirement. That doesn't imply that it could be beneficial, it may be, but I have yet to be convinced of this as a requirement.
If you are going to do E6 then I think the best way is for you to use the Kodak chemicals. In my opinion Kodak is the master of E6 chemicals. This is really only my gut feeling received from seeing just how my films came out over the years, nothing at all to do with technical inside knowledge.
For C41 there is a system that I use which I gleaned from Darkroom and Creative Camera Techniques many years ago. Prior to this article coming out I was mixing C41 from scratch and the negatives, whilst alright, didn't have the colour gamut I thought they should have had.
The best book I have on some colour film developing and/or printing for an amateur, is "Perfect Color Printing" Every Photographer's Guide to Good Color. This magazine style publication was put out in about 1989/90. I bought my copy in January 1990.
I believe that Preston Publications who put this out, among other year books, still have copies available, or a re-print available.
The cost at the time was $6 US, quite cheap.
Back to C41 processing:-
On page 6 of the publication is an article by Bertram W. Miller. The basics of his article is that there is some advantage in using Kodak's proprietary Flexicolor developer. The reasoning is that there is something that was not generally known or included in its competitors products. I really do agree with this statement.
I have used this system of mixing C41 developer since mid 1990 with great and perfect success, literally thousands of rolls.
I am not into scanning film, I develop film to make prints from, I have the ability to scan prints and those are what is in my gallery.
If I was into colour film shooting in a business sense, intending to scan, I would put my money and sweat on C41. Greater colour correction possibilities, especially under fleuro or mixed lighting, coupled with a slightly more flexible exposing regime pretty much make C41 a winner over E6, the way I see it.
If you have the desire to mix your own chemicals then I heartily suggest you do so.
If you do decide to develop C41 then you really only need to ensure that your first bath time and temperature, are quite critically correct. It is very easy to do this, especially if you live in a warmish climate, which I know you do.
For about 15 years, I have been using a stop bath after the first and critical developer bath. This ensures that there is no more development possible and you then have breathing space, from there I bleach, wash, fix, wash and finally the stabiliser bath.
This wash or stop bath between the developer and bleach baths was first suggested to me in:- "Photographic Processes, The Chemistry of Photography Vol. II. This is another Preston Publication from the Darkroom and Creative Camera Techniques stable.
One of the more interesting things in this publication was Developing Color Prints in Room Light, by Patrick Dignan. I did this and it is a great party trick to be able to develop a colour print in front of other people in a lounge room.
Another neat trick is to develop a colour print so that it is a B&W print first, then by dipping half the finished print into colour paper developer, you end up with a print which is half B&W and half colour. If you look in my APUG gallery, you will see one of the prints that I did this to.
This is actually a better party trick to perform in your lounge room, providing you have guests to show off to that is!
For my first 5 years of colour developing and printing I didn't have a darkroom, I used the built in wardrobe at one end of the single room I lived in as my darkroom. As you are only anticipating developing film, it will be really easy to do what you wish.
Mick.
Temp control is key but it is not difficult once you get your workflow down. I would recommend good ventilation in a bathroom as the bleach and fix can be quite fragrant.
). I am hoping to find some like minded folks locally (Minnesota) as a local supplier will order the 1 gal chemicals in qtys of 12 (Case) so if I find two or three others it might work out.
.)
