Ektachrome
Encyclopedia
Ektachrome is a brand name
owned by Kodak for a range of transparency, still, and motion picture films
available in most formats, including 35 mm
and sheet sizes to 11x14 inch size. Ektachrome has a distinctive look that became familiar to many readers of National Geographic, which used it extensively for color photographs for decades in settings where Kodachrome
was too slow. http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00DAcU
Ektachrome, initially developed in the early 1940s, allowed professionals and amateurs alike to process their own films. It also made color reversal film more practical in larger formats, and the Kodachrome
Professional film in sheet sizes was later discontinued.
Whereas the development process used by Kodachrome was technically intricate and beyond the means of amateur photographers and smaller photographic labs, Ektachrome was a product that small professional labs could afford equipment to develop. Many process variants (designated E-1 through E-6) were used to develop it over the years. Modern Ektachrome films are developed using the E-6 process
, which can be carried out by small labs or by a keen amateur using a basic film tank and tempering bath to maintain the temperature at 100 °F (38 °C).
Although the Ektachrome name was once associated with both amateur and professional films, Kodak, , uses the Ektachrome brand for professional films. Consumer Kodak E-6 films are now branded Elite Chrome.
In late 2009, Kodak announced the discontinuation of Ektachrome 64T (EPY) and Ektachrome 100 Plus (EPP) films, citing declining sales. Ektachrome is still used occasionally as a motion picture film stock, such as in the 1999 film Three Kings, which used cross processing
in C-41 color negative chemistry to give a unique appearance. On February 4, 2011, Kodak announced the discontinuance of Ektachrome 200 on its website.
is often considered a superior film due to its archival qualities and color palette, advances in dye and coupler technology have blurred the boundaries between the differing processes, along with Kodak having abandoned Kodachrome research and development since the mid 1990s. Furthermore, the developing of Kodachrome has always required a complex, fickle process requiring an on-site analytical lab and required a turnaround of several days to allow for shipping times to the last Kodachrome processing facility, Dwayne's Photo
in Parsons, Kansas
, which discontinued processing on 30 December 2010.
By contrast, small professional labs have been able to process Ektachrome on-site since the 1950s, with product safety and effluent discharge having been drastically improved since the 1970s, when Kodak reformulated their entire color chemistry lineup. It's even possible for amateur labs to process Ektachrome within an hour using a rotary tube processor (made by Jobo, WingLynch or PhotoTherm), sink-line, or even by hand inversion in a small drum.
There were some other Ektachrome processes for 16 mm
motion picture films:
The following processes were used for amateur Ektachrome super 8 mm
movie film:
E-2: Initial Ektachrome process for roll film and 135 film
(1942–1966)
E-3
: Updated 'professional' Ektachrome process for sheet film and Kodak EP professional rollfilm (c.1950's to 1976)
E-4
: Updated Ektachrome process for roll film and 135 film
(1966–1996, see note)
E-5: Research project, only saw minor use in a revised form as the aerial film process AR-5
E-6
: Current Ektachrome process used for all major color reversal films and formats, first released in 1977. The conditioner, bleach and stabilizer baths were modified in the mid-1990s to remove the formaldehyde from the stabilizer: This change was indicated by changing the names of the conditioner step to pre-bleach step, and the stabilizer step to the final rinse step
E-6P: Used for push processing of Kodak Ektachrome films in general, and particularly for Kodak Ektachrome EPH ISO 1600 film, which has a speed of ISO 400 in normal E6, but is exposed at EI 1600 and push processed
two stops in the first developer bath (10:00 @100.0F) to achieve the ISO 1600 speed rating. (It is natural for a faster film to require a longer first development time. This is sacrificed in the case of most color processing for consistency in processing, especially in machine processing.)
Other film manufacturers use their own designations for nearly identical processes. They include Fujifilm
's process CR-55 (E-4) and CR-56 (cross-licensed with Kodak's process E-6; but with slight variations in the first developer); and the now-discontinued Agfachrome and Konica
's CRK-2 (E-6 equivalent).
High Speed Ektachrome, announced in 1959 provided an ASA 160 color film, which was much faster than Kodachrome. In 1968, Kodak started offering push processing of this film, allowing it to be used at ASA 400.
The E-4 process was generally stopped after 1977, although continued in use for Kodak PCF (Photomicrography Color Film) until the 1980s, and for Kodak IE (Color Infra-red film) until 1996. This was due to a legal commitment by Kodak to provide the process for 30 years.
The Ektachrome process differs significantly from the Agfa Process AP-41
, used generally until 1983 to develop films such as Agfachrome CT18 and 50s Professional.
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
owned by Kodak for a range of transparency, still, and motion picture films
Photographic film
Photographic film is a sheet of plastic coated with an emulsion containing light-sensitive silver halide salts with variable crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film...
available in most formats, including 35 mm
35 mm film
35 mm film is the film gauge most commonly used for chemical still photography and motion pictures. The name of the gauge refers to the width of the photographic film, which consists of strips 35 millimeters in width...
and sheet sizes to 11x14 inch size. Ektachrome has a distinctive look that became familiar to many readers of National Geographic, which used it extensively for color photographs for decades in settings where Kodachrome
Kodachrome
Kodachrome is the trademarked brand name of a type of color reversal film that was manufactured by Eastman Kodak from 1935 to 2009.-Background:...
was too slow. http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00DAcU
Ektachrome, initially developed in the early 1940s, allowed professionals and amateurs alike to process their own films. It also made color reversal film more practical in larger formats, and the Kodachrome
Kodachrome
Kodachrome is the trademarked brand name of a type of color reversal film that was manufactured by Eastman Kodak from 1935 to 2009.-Background:...
Professional film in sheet sizes was later discontinued.
Whereas the development process used by Kodachrome was technically intricate and beyond the means of amateur photographers and smaller photographic labs, Ektachrome was a product that small professional labs could afford equipment to develop. Many process variants (designated E-1 through E-6) were used to develop it over the years. Modern Ektachrome films are developed using the E-6 process
E-6 process
The E-6 process is a chromogenic photographic process for developing Ektachrome, Fujichrome and other color reversal photographic film....
, which can be carried out by small labs or by a keen amateur using a basic film tank and tempering bath to maintain the temperature at 100 °F (38 °C).
Although the Ektachrome name was once associated with both amateur and professional films, Kodak, , uses the Ektachrome brand for professional films. Consumer Kodak E-6 films are now branded Elite Chrome.
In late 2009, Kodak announced the discontinuation of Ektachrome 64T (EPY) and Ektachrome 100 Plus (EPP) films, citing declining sales. Ektachrome is still used occasionally as a motion picture film stock, such as in the 1999 film Three Kings, which used cross processing
Cross processing
Cross processing is the procedure of deliberately processing photographic film in a chemical solution intended for a different type of film. The effect was discovered independently by many different photographers often by mistake in the days of C-22 and E-4...
in C-41 color negative chemistry to give a unique appearance. On February 4, 2011, Kodak announced the discontinuance of Ektachrome 200 on its website.
Processing
Although KodachromeKodachrome
Kodachrome is the trademarked brand name of a type of color reversal film that was manufactured by Eastman Kodak from 1935 to 2009.-Background:...
is often considered a superior film due to its archival qualities and color palette, advances in dye and coupler technology have blurred the boundaries between the differing processes, along with Kodak having abandoned Kodachrome research and development since the mid 1990s. Furthermore, the developing of Kodachrome has always required a complex, fickle process requiring an on-site analytical lab and required a turnaround of several days to allow for shipping times to the last Kodachrome processing facility, Dwayne's Photo
Dwayne's Photo
Dwayne's Photo is a film processing facility in Parsons, Kansas founded in 1956. It was the last Kodak certified Kodachrome processing facility in the world, until the line was shut down on December 30, 2010 due to lack of developing chemicals.- History :...
in Parsons, Kansas
Parsons, Kansas
Parsons is a city in the northern part of Labette County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,500...
, which discontinued processing on 30 December 2010.
By contrast, small professional labs have been able to process Ektachrome on-site since the 1950s, with product safety and effluent discharge having been drastically improved since the 1970s, when Kodak reformulated their entire color chemistry lineup. It's even possible for amateur labs to process Ektachrome within an hour using a rotary tube processor (made by Jobo, WingLynch or PhotoTherm), sink-line, or even by hand inversion in a small drum.
Ektachrome variants
- Before Process AR-5 there was EA-5 for aero film. This is a hot version of E-4E-4 processThe E-4 process is a now outdated process for developing color reversal photographic film.The process is infamous for its use of the highly toxic reversal agent Tertiary Butyl-Amine Borane . The use of the reversal agent permits processing of the film without the manual reexposure that its...
and similar to ME-4 for Ektachrome motion picture film. - E-6 was available to the public in 1975, but only the pro films were available at the time. There were some color stability ("keeping") issues to verify before the amateur films could be released.
- E-7 is the "mix-it-yourself" version of E-6. Functionally it was equivalent, but there were a few differences.
- ES-8 is a special process for one type of Super 8mm movie film. It was introduced in 1975.
There were some other Ektachrome processes for 16 mm
16 mm film
16 mm film refers to a popular, economical gauge of film used for motion pictures and non-theatrical film making. 16 mm refers to the width of the film...
motion picture films:
- ME-2A
- ECO-2
- EC0-3
- E-89
- E-99
- VNF-1
- RVNP
- CRI-1
The following processes were used for amateur Ektachrome super 8 mm
Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
movie film:
- Ektachrome Movie process introduced in 1971 (movies without movie lights). The process was later designated EM-24
- EM-25 is the mix-it-yourself version of EM-24.
- EM-26 is the updated process for improved Ektachrome super 8 films introduced in 1981.
- EM-27 is the mix-it-yourself version of EM-26.
Process history
E-1: Initial Ektachrome process for sheet film (1942-c.1950s)E-2: Initial Ektachrome process for roll film and 135 film
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
(1942–1966)
E-3
E-3 process
The E-3 process is a now outdated process for developing color reversal photographic film, which was invented in the early 1950s....
: Updated 'professional' Ektachrome process for sheet film and Kodak EP professional rollfilm (c.1950's to 1976)
E-4
E-4 process
The E-4 process is a now outdated process for developing color reversal photographic film.The process is infamous for its use of the highly toxic reversal agent Tertiary Butyl-Amine Borane . The use of the reversal agent permits processing of the film without the manual reexposure that its...
: Updated Ektachrome process for roll film and 135 film
135 film
The term 135 was introduced by Kodak in 1934 as a designation for cartridge film wide, specifically for still photography. It quickly grew in popularity, surpassing 120 film by the late 1960s to become the most popular photographic film format...
(1966–1996, see note)
E-5: Research project, only saw minor use in a revised form as the aerial film process AR-5
E-6
E-6 process
The E-6 process is a chromogenic photographic process for developing Ektachrome, Fujichrome and other color reversal photographic film....
: Current Ektachrome process used for all major color reversal films and formats, first released in 1977. The conditioner, bleach and stabilizer baths were modified in the mid-1990s to remove the formaldehyde from the stabilizer: This change was indicated by changing the names of the conditioner step to pre-bleach step, and the stabilizer step to the final rinse step
E-6P: Used for push processing of Kodak Ektachrome films in general, and particularly for Kodak Ektachrome EPH ISO 1600 film, which has a speed of ISO 400 in normal E6, but is exposed at EI 1600 and push processed
Push processing
Push processing in photography, sometimes called uprating, refers to a film developing technique that increases the effective sensitivity of the film being processed. Push processing involves developing the film for more time, possibly in combination with a higher temperature, than the...
two stops in the first developer bath (10:00 @100.0F) to achieve the ISO 1600 speed rating. (It is natural for a faster film to require a longer first development time. This is sacrificed in the case of most color processing for consistency in processing, especially in machine processing.)
Other film manufacturers use their own designations for nearly identical processes. They include Fujifilm
Fujifilm
is a multinational photography and imaging company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Fujifilm's principal activities are the development, production, sale and servicing of color photographic film, digital cameras, photofinishing equipment, color paper, photofinishing chemicals, medical imaging...
's process CR-55 (E-4) and CR-56 (cross-licensed with Kodak's process E-6; but with slight variations in the first developer); and the now-discontinued Agfachrome and Konica
Konica
was a Japanese manufacturer of, among other products, film, film cameras, camera accessories, photographic and photo-processing equipment, photocopiers, fax machines and laser printers.- History :...
's CRK-2 (E-6 equivalent).
High Speed Ektachrome, announced in 1959 provided an ASA 160 color film, which was much faster than Kodachrome. In 1968, Kodak started offering push processing of this film, allowing it to be used at ASA 400.
The E-4 process was generally stopped after 1977, although continued in use for Kodak PCF (Photomicrography Color Film) until the 1980s, and for Kodak IE (Color Infra-red film) until 1996. This was due to a legal commitment by Kodak to provide the process for 30 years.
The Ektachrome process differs significantly from the Agfa Process AP-41
Ap-41 process
The Ap-41 process is an obsolete colour reversal process used generally until 1983 for photographic films such as Agfa CT18. It is significantly different from other colour reversal processes such as Ektachrome and Kodachrome. - External links :...
, used generally until 1983 to develop films such as Agfachrome CT18 and 50s Professional.
Official Kodak information
- Kodak process E6 Ektachrome (color transparency) processing manual Z-119
- Kodak process E6 Q-LAB processing manual Z-6 (more details than processing manual Z119 above)
- Ektachrome type EPH film data sheet
- Kodak sheet film notch codes
Processing of older Ektachrome films
Processes E-2, E-3 and E-4:- Process C-22 UK and Europe
- Film Rescue USA and Canada
- E-6 Ektachrome Super-8 DIY processing
- Fotostation UK & worldwide