Colour Film Processing

The two main types of film, negative and colour slide, are developed using two different processes which are described below. It is important to note that all colour processing has to be carried out in complete darkness unlike black and white processing which can be completed in safelight (red light) conditions.

1. Colour Negatives – C41 Process Stages
· Colour Developer – where latent or hidden image colour dyes are formed
· Silver Bleach – this bleaches any silver in the image and finalises dye formation
· Fixer – the bleached silver becomes soluble
· Wash – this removes the soluble salts
· Stabilise – the image is stabilised as the permanence of the dyes is increased in this final step

2. Colour Positive – E6 Process for Colour Slide (or Transparency) Film
· First Developer – a black and white negative is formed
· Wash – to wash away developer
· Reversal Bath – a chemical foggant that exposes the film to light allows any remaining silver halides to be developed
· Colour Developer – the silver halides are converted to black silver and the colour dyes are formed
· Conditioner – this is equivalent to a stop bath to prevent any further developing
· Silver Bleach - this bleaches any silver in the image and finalises dye formation
· Fixer – the bleached silver becomes soluble
· Wash – this removes the soluble salts
· Stabilise – the permanence of the dyes is improved