Choosing a Film Process, April 2000 J-36 | Kodak C-41RA instruction

TECHNICAL DATA / CHEMICALS FOR MINILABS

April 2000 • J-36

Choosing the Right Chemicals for Your Minilab

This publication describes KODAK Chemicals designed specifically for minilabs. It provides recommended cycles for processing the following films with KODAK FLEXICOLOR Chemicals in Processes C-41RA, C-41B, and C-41*:

KODAK ROYAL GOLD Films KODAK GOLD Films KODAK MAX Films

KODAK Black & White + 400 Film

KODAK ADVANTIX 100, 200, and 400 Films KODAK ADVANTIX Black & White + 400 Film KODAK PROFESSIONAL SUPRA Films KODAK PROFESSIONAL PORTRA Films

It also includes the recommended cycles for processing KODAK EKTACOLOR Papers with KODAK EKTACOLOR PRIME SP, EKTACOLOR PRIME, and EKTACOLOR RA Chemicals for Process RA-4.

For decades, Kodak has been designing and manufacturing films, papers, and chemicals that reduce the impact of photoprocessing on the environment. KODAK EKTACOLOR PRIME SP Developer Replenisher is a new developer for EKTACOLOR Papers that offers even more beneficial features. Formulated in a single part, it is convenient and easy to use. Intended for minilabs with average to high utilization, it will give consistent print quality with less effluent discharged and less packaging waste than KODAK EKTACOLOR PRIME Developer Replenisher. (See CHOOSING A PAPER PROCESS for more information on the availability and features of this new product.)

Although your choice of chemicals may be limited by your minilab’s design and its level of utilization, choosing the chemicals recommended in this publication ensures that you are using chemicals that provide optimum results with the smallest possible environmental impact. We continue to develop new products that will further reduce chemical use and discharge.

CHOOSING A FILM PROCESS

To determine which chemicals to use for your film process, locate the process cycle that best matches the sequence of processing steps and process times of your minilab.

The following section describes the three basic process cycles for films, and includes a listing of the appropriate KODAK FLEXICOLOR Chemicals for each cycle. You can use any of these cycles with or without a wash step. If you select a washless cycle, carefully follow the recommendations in the footnotes.

Note: This publication does not discuss KODAK FLEXICOLOR SM and EKTACOLOR SM Chemicals, which are designed for use only in specific minilabs. For detailed information on these chemicals, see KODAK Publication No. Z-101, Using KODAK SM Chemicals in SM Minilabs.

Use the cycles in this publication as guides. You may have to modify a cycle slightly to suit the design of your processor. The replenishment rates for each cycle are intended for a typical mix of Kodak color negative films. For more detailed information, see KODAK Publication No. Z-100, Using KODAK Chemicals in Minilabs, or Z-131, Using KODAK FLEXICOLOR Chemicals.

*Do not process films of older design that require a stabilizing agent for image stability in minilab processes using KODAK FLEXICOLOR Final Rinse and Replenisher. These films are KODAK VERICOLOR III Film, VERICOLOR Slide Film / SO-279/5072, and VERICOLOR Print Film 4111. Process these films only in a processor that uses FLEXICOLOR Stabilizer III and Replenisher.