Possible cross processes for Ilfochrome

Hello,

I was given a ton of old Cibachrome, Ilford Cibachrome, and Ilfochrome paper and chemistry.

Due to the expense of these materials, and my proclivity to experiment, I took it all without question, and decided to deal with it later if it didn't work out.

Well, I am pretty sure the chems won't work out. I have NO developer part A, and the bleach powder has started liquefying and burning its way through the metal bags in which it is sealed. No leaks thanks to smart packaging by Ilford, with a plastic seal around the interior metal bag. Bloody shame, as I have what would amount to almost $1,000-worth of chemicals at the current $45/liter rate from Freestyle. So I will be taking these to the next hazmat roundup. I don't feel bad about taking them, because the guy I got them from was sure as hell not going to dispose of them properly.

However, I am interested in using up the paper, as I'm sure there must be some way to make something interesting, or at least fun, with it.

I imagine that even with fresh chems from Freestyle, the paper won't be much good for a "normal" print, as it is quite old.

Any thought on possible cross processes to get an image (any image)?

Thank you in advance.

I'm not an expert but from my understanding of how ilfochrome works, to get some color image you need the ilfochrome bleach which is different form used in b&w or other color processes. IIRC the developer and fixer are more less like standard b&w, they may need some particular pH or ingredients but its nothing out of ordinary.

The bleach is the problem. It may or may not be possible to mix a working bleach from scratch. IIRC there should be something on that in apug forum archive.

Thanks.

I will just try some with the kit from freestyle and see how they turn out.

There is really no cross processing for Ilfochrome materials that gives anything worth-while but you might try something like this.

Develop D-19
stop
wash
bleach in a sulfuric acid / dichromate bleach (if this acts on the dyes to give a dye weak image then stop here because it won't work)
clear
wash
Develop in D19 again
Ilfochrome dye bleach solution or some such as I give below...
wash
fix
wash
dry

Now, if you start with a slide, if this works, it should give you a high contrast negative image. If you start with a negative, it should give you should get a distorted positive image.

Dye bleach solution:

Na or K Br - bromide salt. about 50 g/l
Sulfuric or sulfamic acid to pH 2
Phenazine, 50 mg / liter

Thats about all I can suggest and it probably won't work well if it works at all.

PE