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- From: goldis@news.weeg.uiowa.edu (Al Goldis)
- Subject: Re: Anyone do their own C41 developing?
- Message-ID: <1992Dec29.192447.8920@news.weeg.uiowa.edu>
- Organization: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- References: <PHR.92Dec27015244@napa.telebit.com>
- Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 19:24:47 GMT
- Lines: 47
-
- In <PHR.92Dec27015244@napa.telebit.com> phr@telebit.com (Paul Rubin) writes:
- >How difficult is it compared with black and white developing? Is it
- >very sensitive to temperature variation during processing, precise
- >chemical concentration and development timing, impurities, etc.? Are
-
- About the same as B&W, I'd say--except the temperatures are higher.
-
- >the chemicals especially toxic compared to black-and-white chemicals?
-
- Somewhat more toxic than run-of-the-mill B&W. In particular, one of
- the elements of the developer is nasty. Good ventilation when mixing
- is advised, but after the nasty part is mixed/dilluted it's not so
- bad.
-
- However, it's probably not as toxic as some of the non run-of-the-mill
- B&W processes (Pyro).
-
- >I do my own fast-and-sloppy B&W film development with
- >usually-acceptable results, but find it an unpleasant chore compared
- >with printing. I'm wondering whether I could also do my own C41
- >without really hating it.
-
- There's one way to find out :-) You'll probably hate it about as much
- as you hate B&W. The processing time for C-41 (with the Unicolor K2
- kit) is actually a little less than for B&W Tmax film.
-
- >Also, how much $$$ do I have to spend to get started? I don't
- >care much about the cost per roll for chemicals but wonder what
- >I need besides my s/s tank and reels and and cheap thermometer.
-
- All you need beyond what you already have is some sort of temperature
- control. That could be anything from filling your sink with 100
- degree water to purchasing a Junko--oops, I mean Jobo--processor. ;-)
-
- The only question is whether you want to spend the time. If you
- process a lot of film I would estimate chemistry to cost about $1 per
- roll. If you don't do a lot of film and have to throw out more
- chemistry, well...
-
- Considering Wal-Mart will do develop-only for $1.76/roll plus tax and
- at least *my* local store does a very good job, economics doesn't seem
- like a good reason for doing it yourself--particularly if you hate
- doing it.
- --
- Al Goldis alan-goldis@uiowa.edu
- "Pictures are moments truth, touched by light, that show character."
- --Annie Griffiths-Belt
-