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Re: Eclair Cameras: film processing b&w reversal
Kodak HAS redesigned PX and TX Reversal. The new PXR is 7265 and TXR is 7266. If I understand it correctly, the older stocks can be processed in the new process, so long as the PXR is exposed for EI 100, but you don't want to process the new film in the old process.
I haven't tried the new stocks yet, so I can't testify to their virtues.
And, sadly, it seems that many--possibly most--Kodak Tech Reps now lack a lot in technical knowledge about their products. Most of the old guys, who knew their stuff, have been retired out and replaced by younger folks who have come out of sales and advertising, etc. Kodak is no longer in the position to support the cost of these tenured professionals, many of whom came out of professional ranks with years of practical experience under their belts. We're just thankful they are still producing new, improved products in a line of materials (16mm) that isn't getting the use it once did.
You have to have your Tech Rep put you onto someone else who actually knows the answers. Ours is scheduled to come to our lab with a chemist from Kodak to help us make the transition to the new process.
Wade K. Ramsey, DP
Dept. of Cinema & Video Production
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC 29614
super16acl@aol.com 1/4/04 3:33:25 AM >>>
Eric
Last I knew, a first developer was still used for B&W reversal. I don't think
B&W has really changed in the last 50 years, except that the small home B&W
Reversal Kits for still photography are now called "T-MAX REVERSAL DEVELOPING
KIT" rather than the old name "DIRECT POSITIVE FILM DEVELOPING KIT." Certainly
the B&W 16mm films have not been reformulated since the late 1950s, so what
worked when I used to do my own processing in the 70s should still be valid
today.
The 1st Developer is essentially D-19 with a pinch of Sodium Thiocyanate to
help reduce grain size. With this additive, I think Kodak dubs it D-67. (this
is from memory, so double check me). If you wanted slightly larger grain, you
could try straight D-19.
And yes, there is probably no one left at Kodak that knows anything about B&
W. Sad but true. Kodak used to publish little bookets on B&W reversal
processing for motion picture film, which they'd send out for free. It even contained
the formulas for creating the baths from raw chemicals.
Now perhaps Kodak has modified the process in some way; maybe to make it more
environmentally friendly, but the old process as I recall:
(Prehardener recommened)
1st Developer D-67 (or straight D-19 might work fine for your taste)
Wash
Bleach R-9 (a mix of Potassium Dichromate and Sodium Bisulfate)
Clearing Bath (Sodium Sufite) ---- Don't leave film in this bath any longer
than called for! It will eat silver.
Wash
EITHER: a) Fogging Redeveloper or:
b) Reversal Exposure
Second Developer: D-19
Stop Bath (regular acetic acid stop bath)
Fix (standard B&W fixer is ok)
Wash
Hypo Clear for archival
Wash
Dry
The important thing is 100% consistency in processor speed, chemistry
temperature, and mixing of chemicals. Reversal processing is not nearly as forgiving
as negative. Hope this helps. Regards, Mark. PS - I hope you are using a
continous processor and not one of those 100' processing tanks. I never had good
results with those things, though some people have told me that they got
perfectly ok film from them. GOOD LUCK.
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