Processing Agfa Dia-Direct

[mikeg]

Hello,

I've just been given a load of old film which has been frozen for quite some time. Amongst the rolls of APX25, Tech pan etc., are 2 rolls of 35mm Agfa Dia-Direct. Now this appears to be a predecessor to Scala.

Does anyone know if I can process this film at home? Or is it the same or similar process as Scala?

A quick google and it seems as though there is a lab here in the UK that will process it for 20 pounds, but I was wondering if I can do it at home.

Thanks

Mike

 

[Svenedin]

I chanced upon this old thread. I have just found several rolls of Agfa film including 3 of Agfa DD12. They are all unexposed. Does anyone know how to process dia-direct?

 

[miha]

I did google it and it's a 10-step process that includes re-exposing of the film.

 

[Svenedin]

I googled it too but could not find instructions

 

[Ian Grant]

It's derived from the earlier Gevaer reversal films and this is the 1947 Gevaert reversal process. There's also a 1940 Agfa Reversal process but it's from the Photo Lab Index (1940) and the Lab Indexes are is full of errors so can't be trusted.

Ian

 

[Svenedin]

Thank you Ian. I don't have any raw chemicals but I could perhaps try although it would be expensive to assemble what I need. There is a Foma B+W reversal kit available. It seems to follow the same steps as your articles but I don't know what the chemistry is. At £35 for the kit it is rather ott for my 3 rolls of expired film. They may be unusable anyway, expired 1995 and stored in a drawer at (UK cold spare bedroom) room temperature. It might be better if I gave the film away to someone who knows what they're doing but then again it does sound like it might be fun. I'm not sure about using such old film. If I took it seriously and took the trouble to take the best pictures I can and there was no chance of achieving a decent result it would be rather pointless.

The second development says "stop development when desired density is reached" and is after the film has been re-exposed. Does that mean the second development is by inspection? Under safelight?

I really should have used this film before it expired in 1995. It was process paid already.........bit late now!

 

[Ian Grant]

Those were commercial processes probably using tests. You could try the Ilford or May & Baker formulae they need fewer raw chemicals, I know the May & Baker one worked well I used to have a very detailed data sheet for Suprol with a lot about reversal processing.

Silverprint used to stock a reversal kit made for them by Michel Maunders, you could see if it's still available, Alternately post the films to Dr5 in the US, David processes Scala.

Ian