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| The Avenue of Trees - Albert park (shot - cloudy setting sun) |
At the same time that I bought the B+W chemicals I also bought a C41 processing
kit. Many are available with simplified chemical formulas. I chose the Rollei
Digibase C41 Maxi kit. Whilst It says that there is a 2.5ltr working solution
there is only enough stabiliser to make up 1ltr, needed to fill the developing
tank. The 1ltr kit will only give you half the amount you require (the stabiliser will
outlast the other chemical in its useful working life). This kit is good as it
can process at 25°C but makes the process time longer (again more controllable
for a novice) unlike other kits that must be processed at much higher
consistent temperatures only the mixing of the chemicals must be carried out at
a higher temp of 49°C. To process the C41 I had to change the lab setup from
the established B+W process previously used.
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| Pretty winter Roses |
Since temperature was an issue I insulated the chemical water bath with a thick
layer of waste bubble wrap and sat it on a sheet of polystyrene insulation. The
film tank must also be sat in a water bath to keep it up to temp during
processing, I sat this on top of the chemical water batrh to keep heat in the
bucket and escaping heat would help to warm the tanks water bath and so also
the tank.
As this seemed like wetter experience than the B+W process
I decided to place the whole setup in the
large storage box being used to help control spillages. Following from my
experience with the B+W with waiting times I started warming things up first thing.
I loaded one of my 50ft colour films into the dev tank and got the ‘dark room’
out of the way. I organised myself and proceeded measure out the chemicals to
make 1ltr solutions and to mix them up once I achieved the 49°C in the kitchen
sink. First to go into the heated water are the parts A, B and C compnents of
the developer and they are mixed together next you asdd the starter which kicks
off the chemical reaction to develop.This is the developer mixed. I placed this
into the large bucket water bath with the stop bath, the Borax solution and the
required number of rinses needed to run the full process.
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| Greedy Swan |
Next I mixed up the
bleach, then the fixer and then the stabiliser all of which were also placed in
the water bath. Once the chemical bath is down to 25°C the process can begin,
the Lomo tank is placed in its water bath of 25°C and is filled with a prewash
of water to soften the film and warm everything up to temperature for 3mins
before being drained. Now the developer can be poured into the tank at 25°C for
13mins agitating every 30secs. I emptyed the tank into my used developer bottle
and filled it back up with a stop bath (optional) before a wash bath for 3mins
and drain. I refilled the tank with my bleaching solution for 6mins agitating
for 15sec constant and then every 30sec thereafter. This was emptied and
refilled with a water bath for 3mins. Next goes in the fix for 7mins and
agitate every 30sec empty and wash again for 3min. now I added the borax
solution leave in tank for 15min agitate for the last 5mins empty and wash the
film again. The tank can now be safely opened, I emptied
the film into a bowl added water and a little
wetting agent which aids washing off the remjet. I found
a film end and fed the film into another bowl
as I went along cleaning from one end to another filled with clean water,
this id the final wash before the stabiliser.
I emptyed the final rinse and then emptyed the stabiliser into the bucket
making sure that the film was covered in it for 1.5 mins.
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| X-right colour checker |
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| Plastic Duck |
Upon inspection the negative looked good but I placed it
onto the drying rack and left it to fully dry before looking at it under the
scanner…Wow the images and colours look great. There are a lot of fluffs that
have got into the scan bed that can be seen, but the images look good. I really
expected it to go badly as a first attempt and am really pleased with the
results. I am looking forward to processing more.
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