IR image-setting film

[Terence]

Although I haven't yet tracked down a source, I've discovered the following products exist or existed until very recently:

[1] Kodak Recording 2000 Film RIR 2616 -is a high contrast, infrared sensitive recording film incorporating Integrated Booster Technology offering hard dot reproduction and exceptional linearity

[2] Kodak Pagi-Set IR Film 2187 & IRM Film 1187 (High Matte) - are a traditional rapid access imagesetting film for infrared devices

[3] GraphLine IRF: Infra Red Film - Negative working , infrared sensitive film coated on a polyester base.

I'm sure they're high-contrast films that would require some magical brews to tame, but is there any possibility of using them as in-camera films?

I've used Kodak Medical EIR in the past as a very slow IR in ULF formats, and found this to be do-able.

Lastly, does anyone know where to score some of these products? The internet has failed me on this point.

 

[keithwms]

That's good info, thanks. Maybe Mahn sells them or something similar?

http://www.mahn.net/

 

[Nick Zentena]

I was close to tracking down some rolls of Mitsubusi [how ever it's spelled] Might have been Konica/minolta. You need to find some body that sells to the graphic arts types. At least that's what I remember.

Check how it's exposed. IIRC it came in all different kinds.

The other thing I remember is the normal developer they used was high contrast. That gave me the hope the film itself wouldn't be extremely high contrast.

http://konicaminolta.com/graphic/products/chemicals/pdf/cat-film-chem.pdf

Looks like the peak is in the high 700nm range for the IR stuff from Konica.

 

[AgX]

Agfa offers three graphic films which are green-blind and have a cut-off wavelenght of about 700nm.

 

[Ed Workman]

You might try Photo Warehouse AKA ultrafineonline.com.
The graphic world is still changing, but they have been a source for stuff like you describe

 

[rtuttle]

I'm not sure of the first but the second film is direct image laser typesetting film. I have used it in the past and might even have a roll laying around here or the paper equivalent. I don't think you'll find much use for it. It's designed to be black and white, little to no shades of gray. You might have some fun with it but it's not scarce it can be found in any graphic arts dealer inventory either under Kodak, Agfa, Konica, Fuji or many private label firms. The third item is also typsetting film and it's either Kodak or Agfa I don't remember. Check the leader, if it's green it's agfa, red it's Kodak. Judging by the description I think the first item is of the same origin, graphic arts. Again you might have some fun but it's not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I buy the Agfa equivalent in 28" rolls in lots of 8 about once a month. Processing would be done in any Rapid Access chemistry and is usually around 100 degrees. 20 years ago I tried developing some in I think either Rodinal or HC-110 and did get some grays but was still limited to 3 or 4 steps on a gray scale. Have any questions let me know as I have made my living with this material.

 

[glbeas]

This may be a job for Technidol if you can get your hands on some or on the formula. Experimenting with stand development or other low contrast developers like D-23 may also be in order.

 

[Nick Zentena]

20 years ago I tried developing some in I think either Rodinal or HC-110 and did get some grays but was still limited to 3 or 4 steps on a gray scale. Have any questions let me know as I have made my living with this material.

I know it's been a few years But do you remember the dilution? If it was normal film dilutions I think a chance exists if people tried some of the formulas used for Lith film.

 

[rtuttle]

It would have been 25:1. The film isn't made really made to hold a gray image or even a photographic image. This type of film sits in a machine and is hit with a laser to image the emulsion much like an old dot matrix computer printer hits a carbon ribbon to image paper. Plus I don't think it's going to be sensitive to ir like the ir film used in a camera. IR film in graphic arts is kind junky, HeNe is a better sensitivity.

 

[AgX]

The Agfa films I referred to are HeNe-laser films. I would not call them IR-films (Agfa calls them `far red films´.)They are something like the Rollei R3 concerning just the extension of the red sensitivity.

 

[dogzbum]

I have had some success in getting reaonable midtones with AGFA ImPower film processed in Rodinal 1+200. This is a hard dot green insensitive film made for imagesetters and as it uses the same rapid access chemistry is probably similar to the films you describe.

 

[nworth]

These are all very high contrast films sensitized to be sensitive to IR emitting LEDs and semiconductor lasers. They probably have exceptionally fine grain. If you can process them in one of the document film developers (SPUR, POTA), they just may have excellent potential as camera films. My guess is that they are quite slow, however.