Kodak AE-31 manual Printing Color Films Developed as Black-and-White, Description

TECHNICAL DATA / COLOR FILMS

April 1999 ∙ AE-31

Printing Color Films Developed as Black-and-White

DESCRIPTION

When Kodak color films have been mistakenly processed as black-and-white, there are several ways you can salvage pictures from them. You can obtain black-and-white prints from your films, or you can obtain color prints or color slides from them (except KODACHROME Films) by following the procedures described here.

These prints or slides would not be acceptable compared with those from color films which have been processed correctly. But the salvaged prints should certainly be of value especially when you can’t take the pictures over again.

BLACK-AND-WHITE PRINTS

When Kodak color films are processed accidentally as black-and-white, they usually have an overall yellow or orange stain along with a black-and-white image. Use the following procedures to obtain black-and-white prints.

KODAK Color Negative Films. The stain in the negatives from these films is reddish orange and is similar to the overall reddish-orange color of negatives when the films are properly processed as color negatives. Therefore, you can make black-and-white prints from these films without giving the negatives special treatment. You can use fast papers like KODAK POLYMAX II RC Paper, but KODAK PANALURE SELECT RC Paper is better for this purpose.

PANALURE SELECT RC Paper is designed for making black-and white prints from color negatives. Exposures will be much shorter on PANALURE Paper than on conventional papers because of the reddish-orange stain in the negatives.

KODACHROME AND EKTACHROME Films,

Process E-6.When KODACHROME Film is processed as black-and-white, the black rem-jet backing may not have been removed. To remove the rem-jet backing, swab the film with cotton dipped in a mild alkaline solution—a 5-percent solution of sodium carbonate will do the job. Be sure to keep this solution off the emulsion side of the film. Rinse the film to remove the sodium carbonate.

You can make prints on PANALURE Paper, but if you remove the yellow or orange stain from these misprocessed films, you can print the negatives on conventional black-and-white paper the same as you would any normal black-and-white negatives. Do not remove the stain from EKTACHROME Films if you plan to reprocess them as color negatives.

To remove the stain from KODACHROME and KODAK EKTACHROME Films:

1.Prepare the bleach bath by dissolving 1 ounce (28 g) of KODAK Citric Acid (Anhydrous) in 1 gallon (4 L) of KODAK Rapid Fixer diluted as recommended for films in the fixer instructions.

2.Handle only one negative at a time. Treat the negative in KODAK PHOTO-FLO Solution at 75-80°F (24-27°C) for 1 minute. Use fresh solution prepared as directed on the label.

3.Rinse in water at 75-80°F for 20 seconds.

4.Immerse in the bleach bath (prepared in step 1) at 75-80°F for 7-14 minutes.

Important

Stop bleaching if reduction of the silver image becomes apparent. It is better to leave a little stain than to lose the silver image.

5.Wash the negative thoroughly in running water at 75-80°F for 10 minutes.

6.Remove water droplets with a soft, viscose sponge. or treat the film with KODAK PHOTO-FLO Solution for 1 minute. Dry the negative.

Print the negative as you would any normal black-and-white negative.

Warning

Avoid unnecessary or prolonged skin contact with the bleach. Use rubber gloves. In case of accidental skin or eye contact, flush the affected area with plenty of water immediately. Contact with the liquid or the vapor can cause skin and eye irritation. Provide adequate ventilation. Keep tanks covered when you aren’t using them.

COLOR PRINTS OR COLOR SLIDES

If you want color prints or color slides from your films (except KODACHROME Films), you can bleach and process the negatives to obtain color negatives. In many cases, this procedure will restore reasonable color images to the negatives so that color prints or slides can be made from them.

It’s impossible to predict whether the color pictures you obtain will be acceptable. There is an infinite number of black-and white development and process conditions which would have a direct effect on the final results. However, the color prints or slides that have been salvaged with this emergency procedure should have more value than black-and-white prints from the same negatives.

©Eastman Kodak Company, 1998