colour-negative-film

On the surface of colour negative film there is a chromogenic colour emulsion, which is made up of three basic layers that are each sensitive to one of the three additive primary colours. When exposed to light, the silver halide crystals on each of the different layers form a latent image of their respective colour similar to black and white film. See diagram below:

Dyes of the complimentary colour are coupled to the silver halide crystals in the emulsion. Rudolph Fisher patented this dye coupler process in 1912. The combination of the silver crystals and the coupled dyes results in two images: black (silver) and colour (dye). An orange colour in the film base is used to reduce contrast of the negative and to improve the green and red sensitive layers of the film. Common manufacturers of colour negative film are Kodak, Fuji and Agfa. Throughout the course I have used Fujicolor Superia films at varying speeds of ISO 100 to 800 and I have experimented with a Kodak Portra film for studio photography.