Is it advisable to finish rinse with photo flo when using the 3 step C41 kits.

GaryFlorida · Apr 13, 2015

My kit has Dev, Blix and Stabilizer. With B&W I final rinse with photo flo. Is that advisable with the C41 process as well?

Thanks
Gary

Mainecoonmaniac · Apr 13, 2015

Yes. It avoids watermarks. Especially if your water is hard. Been a while since I processed C-41, but use stabilizer which if I remember correctly, is like Photoflo, but with formaldehyde in it.

markbarendt · Apr 13, 2015

NO< NO< NO<

No Photoflo.

The stabilizer/final rinse does the same job plus more. Photoflo would wash away the "more".

GaryFlorida · Apr 13, 2015

Mainecoonmaniac said:
Yes. It avoids watermarks. Especially if your water is hard. Been a while since I processed C-41, but use stabilizer which if I remember correctly, is like Photoflo, but with formaldehyde in it.

Isnt Formaldehyde really really really really bad for people to be exposed to? I thought that was banned in some slide film development kits? Didnt know they used it in C41 kits.

Gerald C Koch · Apr 13, 2015

The stabilizer (final rinse in Kodak's documentation) should be the last bath before drying. Do not use Photo-Flo or anything else. This bath is to ensure that the dyes are do not fade or change color.

http://www.tmax100.com/photo/pdf/kodakflexsmalltank.pdf

GaryFlorida · Apr 13, 2015

Gerald C Koch said:
The stabilizer should be the last bath before drying. Do not use Photo-Flo or anything else.

does the stabilzer have an anti spotting agent?

Gerald C Koch · Apr 13, 2015

GaryFlorida said:
does the stabilzer have an anti spotting agent?

Yes it contains one or more surfactants.

Gerald C Koch · Apr 13, 2015

GaryFlorida said:
Isnt Formaldehyde really really really really bad for people to be exposed to? I thought that was banned in some slide film development kits? Didnt know they used it in C41 kits.

Well to stabilize the film you need a reactive chemical that can combine with any unreacted couplers. This is usually formaldehyde or some other aldehyde. The problem with formaldehyde is from chronic exposure as say in a house from various adhesives or other materials used in construction. It is all in the amount. At one time formaldehyde was used to preserve milk. A drop or two of 38% solution was added to each quart. It was a better alternative than contracting bovine TB or some other cattle disease.

GaryFlorida · Apr 13, 2015

Gerald C Koch said:
Well to stabilize the film you need a reactive chemical that can combine with any unreacted couplers. This is usually formaldehyde or some other aldehyde. The problem with formaldehyde is from chronic exposure as say in a house from various adhesives or other materials used in construction. It is all in the amount. A one time formaldehyde was used to preserve milk. A drop or two of 38% solution was added to each quart. It was a better alternative than contracting bovine TB or some other cattle disease.

I know its used in plywood and particle board isnt it? Also in cardboard. I inhaled a lot of cardboard dust when i worked for UPS back in the day. I hope it doesnt catch up with me.

Is it advisable to finish rinse with photo flo when using the 3 step C41 kits.

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