Kodachrome - how to replicate Kodachrome pictures in 35 mm

Theo Sulphate · Mar 25, 2016

The K-14 brochure from Kodak describes the process, as you have above, but it doesn't specify the exact chemicals used for the couplers and developers. Are they a Kodak trade secret?

As for the machines - are there any old "K lab" machines left?

DarkMagic · Mar 25, 2016

I will say there is a few ways to emulate into make a paperprint or screen-image look somthing like it was done on KR14. But the 100% match, i think is impossible. First of all, the easyest way is to use Kodak Ektar 100 or Portra 160 and hire a great colorbalancing person in post process. This is shot on Ektar and altered: http://cache.krop.com/kompressor-4f4fe8b310014a6.jpg You can try the Autochrome process: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autochrome_Lumière or, what i think will give you the results mimicing KR14 best, this 3 col seperation negatives in black and white: http://www.vintagephoto.tv/seps1.shtml This you also can darkroomprint on RA4-paper and get very unique results.

MattKing · Mar 25, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
The K-14 brochure from Kodak describes the process, as you have above, but it doesn't specify the exact chemicals used for the couplers and developers. Are they a Kodak trade secret?

As for the machines - are there any old "K lab" machines left?

Kodak abandoned the patent - the process is in the public domain.
The actual chemicals include compounds that only Kodak manufactured. They are no longer being manufactured by anyone.

The demise of Kodachrome was caused by lack of use. At the end, the last master rolls went past expiry date before they were needed, and unsold film sat on the remaining retailers' shelves.

The chemicals themselves became more and more expensive to make, and with one working lab only in the world remaining ...

Photo Engineer here on APUG (Ron Mowrey) is actually one of the names on the K-14 patent.

Theo Sulphate · Mar 26, 2016

DarkMagic said:
... what i think will give you the results mimicing KR14 best, this 3 col seperation negatives in black and white: http://www.vintagephoto.tv/seps1.shtml ...

Thanks for that - it does look like Kodachrome.

MattKing said:
...
The demise of Kodachrome was caused by lack of use. At the end, the last master rolls went past expiry date before they were needed, and unsold film sat on the remaining retailers' shelves.
...

That's sad to hear - even though I know it's true.

cooltouch · Mar 26, 2016

Yeah, Kodachrome was a film that I didn't use all that regularly toward the end -- when I shot slides I was usually using Elitechrome and Provia because having the extra ISO speed was nice. But I always knew that, if I wanted to shoot Kodachrome, it was there, waiting for me to pick up a roll or two. I took it for granted. I just assumed that, since there was no better archival product on Earth, that it would always be around. To me, the more complicated developing process was a trivial matter when thinking about what we'd lose if Kodachrome production ever ceased. But now, it's a reality we must accept. Archiving film to digital is not a simple matter. The biggest problem is the media the archives are recorded onto, most of which doesn't have the sort of storage life you would expect any archive to possess. Film is inherently better in this respect.

MartinCrabtree · Mar 26, 2016

Kodachrome 25. I miss my Kodachrome.

DF · Mar 27, 2016

MartinCrabtree said:
Kodachrome 25. I miss my Kodachrome.

View attachment 153295

DF · Mar 27, 2016

Is there a catagory/forum here at APUG just for viewing old Kodachromes - WWII'sh, all the way up to, say, 60's era?
If not, perhaps....?

DF · Mar 27, 2016

Jim Noel said:
My Kodachrome slides from 1939-1945 (Weston Speed 8 outdoors, and 12 indoors) are significantly different from those taken in the 1970's. They are sharper,clearer and the colors are more intense, particularly the reds.
If you wonder about the difference in speeds, the outdoor and indoor films were different emulsions.

Sarath · May 4, 2016

Jim Noel said:
My Kodachrome slides from 1939-1945 (Weston Speed 8 outdoors, and 12 indoors) are significantly different from those taken in the 1970's. They are sharper,clearer and the colors are more intense, particularly the reds.
If you wonder about the difference in speeds, the outdoor and indoor films were different emulsions.

Could you please share some sample pics.

Sarath · May 4, 2016

blockend said:
Those shots were taken on large format sheet Kodachrome. It was available to the military, not the general public.

Could you please explain more about this.

blockend · May 5, 2016

Sarath said:
Could you please explain more about this.

There's information available on the 'net. As I understand it Kodachrome was initially available as 8mm film from the mid-1930s, then in a variety of sizes including 120 and 4 x 5". Government and military seemed to have a monopoly on large format Kodachrome, at least I haven't seen any used outside that context or later than the 1940s. The reason, presumably, was cost.

Examples: http://www.guns.com/2013/04/26/wingwomen-42-photos/

Sarath · May 5, 2016

Richard S. (rich815) said:
I'm guessing he's likely referring to images like these. Such wonderful colors.

Yes sir

Kodachrome - how to replicate Kodachrome pictures in 35 mm

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