How to get grainy colour negative film

TSHolen · Jan 7, 2023

I have a project in which I'd like as much grain as possible on negative colour film.

My first instinct would be to shoot an 800 iso film, underexpose and push the film, but that means I'd loose shadow detail.

Of course there's the option of using expired film, but I'd ideally like to find a process that gives relatively consistent results.

I've heard of people baking film in the oven. I'm curious if there are any tricks to introduce grain either in the processing of the film or the treatment of it before exposure.

How would you go about creating the grainiest image without losing too much latitude?

xkaes · Jan 7, 2023

Use the fastest film you can find -- NEW, in order to keep the color OK.
Then use a wide-angle lens or take the picture you want from a greater distance. The greater the wide-angle or distance, the greater the grain will be in the end.
After processing either make an enlargement of the print and cut it the size you want -- or crop it under the enlarger.

rcphoto · Jan 7, 2023

I'd probably push the highest ISO film I could get. I'm sure there is still some 1600 superia rolling around.

Paul Howell · Jan 7, 2023

Depending on your budget you can buy a 1/2 frame camera or use 110, some sell repackaged 110. Pentax made a 100 body with interchangeable lens, Minolta a zoom.

TSHolen · Jan 8, 2023

Thanks for your replies!

I mean there's something about an image rendered with a sharp lens on grainy film that is sort of the look I'm after. So cropping into a wideangle would compromizing the sharpness of the lens.
Shooting on superia / Natura 1600 would be the dream, but it's tough to get hold of.
A smaller negative is one way to go I guess, but I'd be a little limiting in terms of what lenses are available.
I'd love to be able to use a leica or something and rather do something funky in the processing of the film.

koraks · Jan 8, 2023

TSHolen said:
I'd love to be able to use a leica or something and rather do something funky in the processing of the film.

Alright, how about this: push-process your film, and to a skip bleach. This will enhance grain - but it will also drop saturation and increase contrast. If you're scanning, you might be able to correct these side effects insofar as you want, while keeping the emphasized grain. If you want to print these optically on RA4, you'll have to live with the side effects and make the best of it.

Start with the grainiest film stock you can easily get; this is probably Superia 400. If that's difficult or too expensive, give it a go with plain old Superia 200 or C200; that's pretty grainy stuff as well.

brbo · Jan 8, 2023

Current Adox Color Mission 200 has more grain than Superia 1600 (when it was fresh). Expired film... that's another matter and might not bring you only more grain but also other "qualities" that you might or might not want.

The new Orwo NC500 looks to be the new grain king, although availability is still unknown.

Lomography Metropolis shot at 400 will be grainy if you can work with its colour palette.

Steven Lee · Jan 8, 2023

Actually the easiest way to increase grain is to literally increase it: use a smaller portion of a negative, croup out the rest, and magnify more. Basically, shoot half-frame (or even smaller) using a regular camera.

Paul Howell · Jan 8, 2023

Pentax 110 system had 3 lens, not all that wide, a 35mm, normal and short tele.

Pentax Auto 110 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

TSHolen · Jan 9, 2023

Very interesting ideas. I'm gonna look into bleach bypass, maybe in combination with flashing the negative to reduce the contrast slightly.
And I'm gonna seek out some Adox Color Mission.

Thanks for your suggestions, much appreciated!

Cholentpot · Jan 9, 2023

Paul Howell said:
Pentax 110 system had 3 lens, not all that wide, a 35mm, normal and short tele.

Pentax Auto 110 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Hey now! Don't besmirch. These things when scanned proper are quite good.

To OP.

Get some Vison 3 500T and shoot a stop pushed. Develop with borax as your remjet remover and you'll have rice sized grain.

xkaes · Jan 9, 2023

The grain is basically inherent in the film. Alternate processing will only go so far. Your main option is basically the grainiest film you can get -- processed normally -- and use a smaller portion of the film. You can do that in two ways:
Use 35mm film and crop it -- first use a wider lens or shoot from farther away.
Use a smaller format such as 1/2 frame or 110 -- but that is really the exact same thing when you think about it

A. 35mm full frame with a 28mm lens & cropped image
B. 1/2 frame camera with 28mm lens w/o cropping

X. 35mm full frame with a 24mm lens & cropped image
Y. 1/2 frame camera with 20mm lens & cropped image
Z. 110 camera with 17mm lens w/o cropping

Either way you end up with the same sized image on the film.

Not cropping a smaller format is the same as cropping a larger format with a wider lens.

Guivd · Jan 11, 2023

Like rcphoto, try to find older high iso films...

braxus · Jan 14, 2023

I still think shooting half frame is your answer.

gone · Jan 14, 2023

braxus said:
I still think shooting half frame is your answer.

I agree. Or just hand the camera off to me, since I've never processed color film. Grainy film (and more!) would probably be guaranteed.

mshchem · Jan 14, 2023

Reticulation isn't grain but it looks grainy, after washing, dip the reel in really hot tap water for 30 seconds, then really cold. Repeat as desired. Modern film is tough stuff but you may be able to get some wrinkles.

How to get grainy colour negative film

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