PART B - COLOR REVERSAL FILM PROCESSING
3.
Functions of the Chemicals.
There are 10 steps, including drying, involved in the E6 process.
Let's
take a look at each of these in the order that they occur in the process and
discuss the action that each has on the film.
a. First Developer.
The first developer is a black and white film
developer that reduces the exposed silver halides (the latent image) into
black metallic silver (the silver image). After completing this step, there
is a black and white silver negative image in each of the sensitized layers.
(1) The most critical step.
Although no color images are formed
during this step, it is the most critical step of the E6 process.
Time,
temperature, agitation, replenishment, and storage conditions must be
carefully
controlled.
You
must
carefully
guard
against
chemical
(2) Variation affect final image.
Any variation in the standard
process will affect the final color image by lowering or increasing density,
contrast, and color balance.
b. First Wash.
The first wash tends to stop development and prevent
any carry-over of the first developer into the reversal bath. Wash times or
temperatures other than those recommended by the manufacturer will result in
a change in color balance and density.
c. Reversal Bath.
All silver halides that were not exposed in the
camera and developed by the action of the first developer are acted upon by
a chemical reversal agent in the reversal bath.
It acts as a second
exposure that chemically fogs (exposes) all the remaining silver halides.
(1) Improper reversal procedures will result in an overall loss of
density.
(2) After the film has been in this bath for 1 minute, the remainder
of the process can be conducted in normal room light.
(3) There is no wash after this step because complete reversal
requires that the reversal agent be in the emulsion when the film enters the
color developer.
d. Color Developer.
The color developer produces two chemical changes.
4-3
SS0514
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