12 VISUAL TROUBLESHOOTING OF PROCESS E-6

Once you have eliminated improper film storage and incorrect exposure as causes of poor-quality transparencies on KODAK EKTACHROME Film, check for processing problems. These problems include errors in chemical mixing, order of processing steps, processing temperature, agitation, washing, replenishment, and solution contamination.

A visual check of the processed film is one way to make an initial diagnosis. You can make a more thorough determination of the cause of processing problems and the corrective action to take by plotting and evaluating your control-strip densities; see section 13, “Process Monitoring.”

Table 12-1

Troubleshooting from the Appearance of Processed Film

Appearance of Film

Possible Cause

Very High Maximum

No Edgeprint

First developer omitted

Density (very dark

Visible

 

no apparent image)

 

 

Edgeprint

First developer and color developer reversed

 

 

Visible

Film not exposed

 

 

 

Dark Overall

 

Inadequate time or low temperature in first developer

 

 

First or color developer diluted or exhausted

 

 

Color developer starter added to first developer

 

 

Too much first developer starter used

 

 

First developer or first and color developers underreplenished

 

 

Very Dark (overall or in random areas)

Bleach or fixer (or both) omitted, reversed, diluted, exhausted, or underreplenished

 

 

 

LIght Overall

 

Too much time or high temperature in first developer

 

 

Film fogged by light before processing

 

 

First or color developer (or both) too concentrated

 

 

First or color developer (or both) overreplenished

 

 

First developer starter omitted

 

 

First developer contaminated with reversal bath or color developer

 

 

First developer contaminated with fixer

 

 

Image Very Faint or No Image

First developer used twice or color developer omitted

(film may show colored streaks)

Severe light fog

 

 

Overall Density Variation from Batch to Batch

Inconsistent first-developer time, temperature, agitation, or replenishment

 

 

 

Blue

 

First developer contaminated with fixer

 

 

Reversal bath overconcentrated

 

 

Too little first developer starter used

 

 

 

Cyan

 

First-wash temperature too low

 

 

 

Yellow

 

Color-developer starter added to first developer

 

 

Too much first developer starter used

 

 

Inadequate bleaching or fixing

 

 

 

Yellow-Red

 

First developer with color developer starter added

 

 

Underreplenishment of first developer or color developer

 

 

Low Density Blue; High Density Yellow

Color developer contaminated with fixer

 

 

 

Green

 

Reversal bath exhausted, diluted, or underreplenished

 

 

Film fogged by green safelight

 

 

Wash used between color developer and reversal bath

 

 

Color developer dilute

Color pH high

Too much Part A in color developer

Overreplenished color developer

A dilute color developer

Color developer mixed using first developer starter

Using KODAK Chemicals, Process E-6Z-119 Sixth Edition

12-1

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Kodak manual Visual Troubleshooting of Process E-6, Troubleshooting from the Appearance of Processed Film