Old Color Film Processes

[ozphoto]

Hi everyone.

I've been asked to put together a guide for some of my work colleagues (archivists), who know very little about film, and have asked for help to identify what they are being asked to work with in collections.

For colour negative film, I want to provide a list of the original processes, pre-C41, proprietary (Agfa etc) and all the weird ones that I may not even be aware of.

Colour transparency film is a little easier for me - E6, E4, K-14 (I've forgotten the earlier version), CN16 - but I'm sure there are others on that list too!

These lists will be used too illustrate that colour film as they know it, has been around for far longer than they think, plus different processes can cause different issues regarding storage and colour shifts.

They are very aware of the stability of Kodachrome, as I've lauded its wonders since my first day, plus they've seen the incredible colours of the first Kodachrome film made here in Australia in the 1930s in person, so I think I've succeeded in some areas, but definitely would like to help them further.

Any help you can give me is very welcome - and please do add links/articles/book references etc, as I love researching all things film too!!

 

[koraks]

Start here: https://www.photomemorabilia.co.uk/

That covers much of what you're trying to do.

 

[ozphoto]

Start here: https://www.photomemorabilia.co.uk/

That covers much of what you're trying to do.

Thank you! I did a quick search on Dr G., but the results were less than stellar.
I have used this site before - but stupidly hadn't bookmarked it. . . . .

 

[foc]

Thank you! I did a quick search on Dr G., but the results were less than stellar.
I have used this site before - but stupidly hadn't bookmarked it. . . . .

That photomemorabillia is an excellent source of information. Highly recommended.

I have a few editions of the British Journal of Photography Annuals. They list the colour process and details eg. C22, C41, Agfa etc and transparency processes.

If you are interested I can scan the revenant pages and I can post them here or send them privately. I am away at the moment so it will be around 23rd April before I can do it. Just let me know.

 

[ozphoto]

Thanks for your kind offer, @foc. I’d love to see the old BJP info! Please post here when you can - others may be interested at some stage too.

 

[Romanko]

Autochrome

Autochrome Instructions Lumiere D.D. Teoli Jr. A.C. : Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Archival Collection : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

NOTICE: In 2019 Tumblr deleted all 48 of my websites.In 2020, the Internet Archive shut down this account you are looking at...then it was restored...but only...

archive.org

Colour Photography with the Lumière Autochrome Plates D. D. Teoli Jr. A. C. : D. D. Teoli Jr. A. C. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Colour Photography with the Lumière Autochrome Plates Scans: Purchased for $35Contributed to the Internet Archive in Honor and Memory of W.S. Van Dyke &...

archive.org

Notes pratiques sur l'emploi des plaques autochromes : BoureÌe, H., author : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Le travail qui suit est extrait de Photo-revue ...--T.p. verso

archive.org

Autochrom Plates D. D. Teoli Jr. Archival Collection : Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Digital Archival Collection : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

NOTICE: In 2019 Tumblr deleted all 48 of my websites.In 2020, the Internet Archive shut down this account you are looking at...then it was restored...but only...

archive.org

L'autochrome LumieÌre : secrets d'atelier et deÌfis industriels : LaveÌdrine, Bertrand : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

391 p. : 27 cm

archive.org

 

[Romanko]

Agfa and ORWO processes:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359141367_Colour_film_processes_AGFA_ORWO

and references in this note.

You are probably familiar with this resource:

Timeline of Historical Colors in Photography and Film

is a comprehensive resource for the investigation of film color technology and aesthetics, analysis and restoration, developed and curated by Barbara Flueckiger since 2012. In 2024 Sylvie Pénichon joined the Timeline as a co-curator for still photography.

filmcolors.org

 

[ozphoto]

Autochrome

Autochrome Instructions Lumiere D.D. Teoli Jr. A.C. : Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Archival Collection : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

NOTICE: In 2019 Tumblr deleted all 48 of my websites.In 2020, the Internet Archive shut down this account you are looking at...then it was restored...but only...

archive.org

Colour Photography with the Lumière Autochrome Plates D. D. Teoli Jr. A. C. : D. D. Teoli Jr. A. C. : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Colour Photography with the Lumière Autochrome Plates Scans: Purchased for $35Contributed to the Internet Archive in Honor and Memory of W.S. Van Dyke &...

archive.org

Notes pratiques sur l'emploi des plaques autochromes : BoureÌe, H., author : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Le travail qui suit est extrait de Photo-revue ...--T.p. verso

archive.org

Autochrom Plates D. D. Teoli Jr. Archival Collection : Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Digital Archival Collection : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

NOTICE: In 2019 Tumblr deleted all 48 of my websites.In 2020, the Internet Archive shut down this account you are looking at...then it was restored...but only...

archive.org

L'autochrome LumieÌre : secrets d'atelier et deÌfis industriels : LaveÌdrine, Bertrand : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

391 p. : 27 cm

archive.org

Thank you! This is one amazing process - who would have thought potatoes could be used for creating photographs?!

 

[ozphoto]

Agfa and ORWO processes:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359141367_Colour_film_processes_AGFA_ORWO

and references in this note.

You are probably familiar with this resource:

Timeline of Historical Colors in Photography and Film

is a comprehensive resource for the investigation of film color technology and aesthetics, analysis and restoration, developed and curated by Barbara Flueckiger since 2012. In 2024 Sylvie Pénichon joined the Timeline as a co-curator for still photography.

filmcolors.org

Ah thanks, @Romanko - Agfa will always be my first love in the film word.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Hi everyone.

I've been asked to put together a guide for some of my work colleagues (archivists), who know very little about film, and have asked for help to identify what they are being asked to work with in collections.

For colour negative film, I want to provide a list of the original processes, pre-C41, proprietary (Agfa etc) and all the weird ones that I may not even be aware of.

Colour transparency film is a little easier for me - E6, E4, K-14 (I've forgotten the earlier version), CN16 - but I'm sure there are others on that list too!

These lists will be used too illustrate that colour film as they know it, has been around for far longer than they think, plus different processes can cause different issues regarding storage and colour shifts.

They are very aware of the stability of Kodachrome, as I've lauded its wonders since my first day, plus they've seen the incredible colours of the first Kodachrome film made here in Australia in the 1930s in person, so I think I've succeeded in some areas, but definitely would like to help them further.

Any help you can give me is very welcome - and please do add links/articles/book references etc, as I love researching all things film too!!

What is the guide to be used for? Why is what the processess that were used important? Why woulkd that matter if they are they tring to learn what the best way to archiove film? WE need a little more information.

If you;re looking for the best way to archive, look up the US Library of Congress. That's one source that defines how they do it.

 

[pentaxuser]

What is the guide to be used for? Why is what the processess that were used important? Why woulkd that matter if they are they tring to learn what the best way to archiove film? WE need a little more information.

This strikes me as a very pertinent question

pentaxuser

 

[ozphoto]

What is the guide to be used for? Why is what the processess that were used important? Why woulkd that matter if they are they tring to learn what the best way to archiove film? WE need a little more information.

If you;re looking for the best way to archive, look up the US Library of Congress. That's one source that defines how they do it.

This strikes me as a very pertinent question

pentaxuser

The more information I have to provide them with details they feel are important to their side of the equation, the better. I would prefer to have as much "ammo as possible" so to speak, which allows me to prepare a guide that matches their needs, instead of having to research later, because they ask something I am not prepared for.

They know how to do their job, they would just like to know more about film; archival collections worldwide are now experiencing vinegar syndrome (HiAD) which is decimating some collections. It was their request to know more - which is a good thing, as 95% of them are not film savvy.

They simply want to learn more to help them make the right decisions regarding how they approach film material from past, present and future collections.

Sure, processes of the past may not appear to be relevant, but having that in their back pocket, so to speak, might be useful at some point; in the future, a researcher may want to know what process a particular transparency used and thanks to our archivists' interest today, they have included it in the information attached to all of those held within our collection.

They don't want to know the ways in which film was processed, simply what different variants there were/are.

TIA.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Superficial AI-generated overview of film types:

Here's a summary but not a list of individual processes.

• Film processing is primarily categorized by the specific chemical path required to develop a particular type of film stock

. While modern photography relies on a few standard methods, there are also specialized and historical techniques used for specific aesthetic effects.

Standard Processing Methods
These are the most common processes found in professional labs and used by hobbyists.

• C-41 (Color Negative): The industry standard for modern color print film. It produces a color-inverted negative with an orange-tinted base. It is a highly standardized process, meaning all films using it follow the same timings and temperature (usually or
  
  
• Black & White (Traditional): Used for traditional silver-based B&W films. Unlike color, this is not a single standardized time; each film stock (like Kodak Tri-X) requires specific developer types and timings. It is generally the easiest process to perform at home.
• E-6 (Slide / Reversal): Used for color reversal film, which produces a positive transparency (a "slide") rather than a negative. This complex, multi-step process is more sensitive to temperature and chemical accuracy than C-41.
• ECN-2 (Motion Picture Color): The chemical process for modern cinema film stocks. It is similar to C-41 but includes a specialized step to remove the "rem-jet" carbon backing found on motion picture film.

Experimental and Artistic Techniques
Photographers often deliberately deviate from standard processing to achieve unique looks.

• Cross Processing (X-Pro): Deliberately developing one type of film in chemicals intended for another—most commonly slide film in C-41 chemicals. This results in unpredictable, high-contrast images with intense color shifts.
• Bleach Bypass (Skip Bleach): A technique where the bleaching step is skipped in color processing. This retains silver in the film, resulting in a desaturated, high-contrast, and grainy image.
• Push & Pull Processing:
  • Pushing: Developing the film longer than normal to compensate for underexposure (shooting at a higher ISO than the film is rated for).
  • Pulling: Developing the film for less time than normal to compensate for overexposure.

Historical and Industrial Processes

• Technicolor (3-Strip): An early motion picture process that used three separate strips of black and white film to record red, green, and blue light simultaneously.
• Kodachrome (K-14): A now-discontinued, highly complex color process that added dyes during development rather than having them built into the film.
• Industrial Film Treatments: In non-photographic industrial contexts, film processing can refer to physical surface treatments like annealing (heat treatment), corona treatment (increasing surface adhesion), and slitting (cutting rolls).

 

[geirtbr]

I have blattered through this book some time ago, it is interesting, and it seems to adress some of your topic - if you dont know about it already.

Twentieth-Century Color Photographs: Identification and Care

Overview of the history and technology of the major traditional color photographic processes.

www.getty.edu

 

[MattKing]

One thing that might be important to include is that in many cases there were different designations for the same processes. For example, Kodak's C-22 (predecessor toC-41) was essentially the same as a Fuji designated process and an Agfa designated process.
In addition, the K-12 (predecessor to K-14) Kodachrome process competed against incompatible but competing Kodachrome like processes from competitors.
An entirely separate set of processes were used in the motion picture film world.
Two very good resources would be the George Eastman Museum, and the Vancouver Archives.

 

[Tom Taylor]

A good general introduction can be found here. For technicolor see here.

 

[ozphoto]

Thanks everyone, these are great and will be really helpful as I write up the "Processes" section. Knew I could count on you all to help me find a wealth of information!

 

[ozphoto]

One thing that might be important to include is that in many cases there were different designations for the same processes. For example, Kodak's C-22 (predecessor toC-41) was essentially the same as a Fuji designated process and an Agfa designated process.
In addition, the K-12 (predecessor to K-14) Kodachrome process competed against incompatible but competing Kodachrome like processes from competitors.
An entirely separate set of processes were used in the motion picture film world.
Two very good resources would be the George Eastman Museum, and the Vancouver Archives.

Hi Matt, yes, this was one of the caveats I was going to include. For example, we have truckloads of the old Agfa CNS transparencies in the collection and the archivists have often asked why these in particular have shifted so badly. I have explained (superficially) that there were several different process for colour films, so felt it would be prudent to back this up with some cold, hard facts (in the nicest possible way of course!)

 

[ozphoto]

I have blattered through this book some time ago, it is interesting, and it seems to adress some of your topic - if you dont know about it already.

Twentieth-Century Color Photographs: Identification and Care

Overview of the history and technology of the major traditional color photographic processes.

www.getty.edu

Thank you! I haven't actually seen this one - I might have to add to my own collection for future research.

 

[Kino]

Here are a few from my book collection; luckily, the Interned Archives has scans of most of them...

History of color photography : Friedman, Joseph Solomon, 1899- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

x, 514 p. 24 cm

archive.org

Byepaths of colour photography : Reg, O : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

xii, 116, xiii-xx p. : 21 cm

archive.org

Photographic optics and colour photography : including the camera, kinematograph, optical lantern, and the theory and practice of image formation : Johnson, G. Lindsay (George Lindsay), 1853-1943 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Arch

Includes bibliographical references and index

archive.org

Photography in colours : a text-book for amateurs and students of physics : with a chapter on kinematography in the colours of nature : Johnson, George Lindsay, 1854- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Book digitized by Google from the library of University of California and uploaded to the Internet Archive by user tpb.

archive.org

Natural Color Processes by Carlton E. Dunn (not Internet Archives-read only)

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89057176935&seq=15

Edit: i forgot the most important one!

The history of three-color photography : Wall, E. J. (Edward John), 1860-1928 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

archive.org

 

[ozphoto]

Here are a few from my book collection; luckily, the Interned Archives has scans of most of them...

History of color photography : Friedman, Joseph Solomon, 1899- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

x, 514 p. 24 cm

archive.org

Byepaths of colour photography : Reg, O : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

xii, 116, xiii-xx p. : 21 cm

archive.org

Photographic optics and colour photography : including the camera, kinematograph, optical lantern, and the theory and practice of image formation : Johnson, G. Lindsay (George Lindsay), 1853-1943 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Arch

Includes bibliographical references and index

archive.org

Photography in colours : a text-book for amateurs and students of physics : with a chapter on kinematography in the colours of nature : Johnson, George Lindsay, 1854- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Book digitized by Google from the library of University of California and uploaded to the Internet Archive by user tpb.

archive.org

Natural Color Processes by Carlton E. Dunn (not Internet Archives-read only)

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89057176935&seq=15

Edit: i forgot the most important one!

The history of three-color photography : Wall, E. J. (Edward John), 1860-1928 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

archive.org

Thanks @Kino

 

[koraks]

@ozphoto for your colleague archivists it may be useful to have some pointers in the direction of academic literature on the subject. A possible starting point could be these fairly recent and (more importantly) publicly accessible conference proceedings: https://www.rcasb.eu/index.php/RCASB/catalog/view/1/5/13
While the scope is broader than just color photography, and it's not a 'mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive' collection either, it can serve as a starting point for further literature study. In fact, it should be possible/easy to construct a structured set of key references grouped by topic using something like Gemini or Claude.

 

[ozphoto]

@koraks thanks for this, I was going to include some article links as well, so these suggestions will come on very handy.