Rollei Compard Digibase C-41 help

[Justyjust]

I currently been using the Rollei Compard Digibase C-41/https://www.firstcall-photographic....ExnwYl8OqaoBsd4_8ZjidClAjM8F-1Qx-rbw#prodtabs ....A 3 stage premixed product dev/bleach,fixer.
After posting a few pictures on a Facebook group I have been told I shouldn't be processing it at the higher temperatures 45c, I have been recommended to use a 38 degrees: 3 minutes Pre-Soaking, 3min15sec for first few films, 4 minutes Bleach, 5 minutes Fix.

1. I have also been told that 38/39c is the standard temp for processing C41, is this correct and should I not follow the directions of the manual???
2. Are these kits all the same and all the with the same timings and temp?
3. I also use a stainless kindermman and when I agitate I would flip the canister about 5 times upside down is this too much?

Help Apricated thanks

 

[lantau]

That was my first C41 product, as well. I believe it is Fuji chemistry. As you can see in the table your 45°C is seperated from the other temperatures and labeled as rapid. I guess they offer this combination for those who require a short time. Technically speaking only the 37.8°C will give perfect results. That is because colour film is a stack of three films. For perfect results the three layers contrasts need to match, and it does that at the official temperature. Deviate and you may or may not like the result.

Personally I bought this kit because I was afraid of having to process hat 38° and thought it'd be easier at 30°C or so. But it turns out that it is easier to hold the 37.8°C for 3:15min than 30°C for a longer time. Maybe that is why you'd like to work at 45°C.

So, yes. You should work at 38°C, but if you are happy with the results at 45°C and like that workflow better then keep at it.

 

[koraks]

I'd just stick to standard c41 times and temperatures unless there's a compelling reason not to. As far as I can tell, there's no such reason in this case.

 

[halfaman]

Compard/Rollei Digibase instructions are horribly imprecise. Do it at 38º C at take the longest time for bleach and fix.

Something like this:

1. Preheating of the tank - 4-5 minutes (or presoak with water at 38º C aprox)
2. Develop - 3:15
3. Stop - 15 seconds (standard B/W stop bath)
4. Wash - 2 washes of 30 seconds each with water at 38º C aprox
5. Bleach - 4:20
6. Wash - 2 washes of 30 seconds each with water at 38º C aprox
7. Fix - 6:60
8. Wash - 5 to 7 washes of 30 seconds each with water (temperature not important but avoid very abrupt changes)
9. Stabilizer - 1 minute

Stop and/or washes between devolper and bleach, and between bleach and fixer, will maximize the processing capacity of bleach and fixer. Otherwise you will run into troubles more sooner than later when reusing the solutions.

 

[Justyjust]

Thanks all I think I'll go with your advice and lower the temp and see how it goes with my second colour film, i been using iford xp2 and have been happy with the outcome but I will update you all how it goes.
In the meantime I've purchased a cinestill tcs-1000 so I should be able to keep my temps good hopefully.

 

[wahiba]

There are excellent articles on this on the Lomography site.
This is a sample link: https://www.lomography.com/magazine/236651-tutorial-rollei-c41-digibase-color-film-development
Instead of processing to one of the fixed temperature points they produced a time temperature graph for each part of the process. They just check the temperature after the chemical is in the tank and adjust the time according to the temperature. Evidently worked fine; which does seem logical as Ilford do provide such graphs on their data sheets.

 

[koraks]

Ilford

They're not exactly in the C41 business.

Evidently worked fine

I see no RA4 prints nor at least a color checker verification. What I DO see is a 'Lomo' result that isn't due to the processing, but totally hides any potential crossover problems that can arise in off-standard processing.

Yes, this approach works in the sense that it will give a color image. How objectively good that outcome is, comes with no guarantees however. It's evidently perfectly fine for stuff like cross-processing as done on the cited web page!