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Film processing


pridbor

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I use a local 1 hour store for my processing here in LA and was wondering if they can process all brands of film in general, like Fuji, they do Kodak of course. My box states a C-41 process and I was wondering if that is unique to Kodak or universal?

 

And how about B/W are they sent to a lab, or can they use the same process? I did develop my B/W films and prints back when I was a teen, but I don't have the time nor the inclination to re-commence this kind of work

 

Preben

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Your local store could process any film brand or type(colour/b&w) as long as it says C-41.C-41 is not specific to any brand.Most film companies make b&w film that uses C-41 processing.If you use to shoot kodak tri-x,it has to be sent to a pro lab for processing,as most professional b&w film made.

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The brand of film is not relevant to processing -- the process required is. Color print film is processed "C41" which is what your local store is capable of doing. Traditional B&W film (Tri-X, HP-5, etc.) requires a pro lab to process if you don't want to do it yourself. There are also a few B&W C41 films such as Kodak BW400CN which can be processed by your local store, but it only produces B&W prints.

 

If you are also having your film scanned at the time of processing, I would recommend a high quality pro lab for your processing/scanning such as Richard Photo Lab (RPL) in Hollywood. I&A is also a top choice of professionals.

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Hi

 

The color negative films are all C41 process i.e. have only been C41 process for years, local minilab print or scan cheap fast turn around.

 

Fuji Kodak and Ilford each do a C41 monochrome film compatible with above, the prints will appear as mono spmetimes with quaint tints, again cheap fast turn around.

 

Conventional silver image monochrome will need home processing or pro lab, the lab will be slower and more expensive unless you are very lucky.

 

There is slide color film pro lab again, may only be postal service even in large metropolis.

 

The mini labs are slowly being closed down. You need to relish the home processing or think about postal service, for the future...

 

Noel

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So ANY photo lab would be able to process C-41 films? Even the 1hour return ones? I bought a couple of Ilford XP2 rolls to try out. The end aim is to buy a film M but want to get used to the process of shooting with film. For now, I use a Zenit-E.

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So ANY photo lab would be able to process C-41 films? Even the 1hour return ones? I bought a couple of Ilford XP2 rolls to try out. The end aim is to buy a film M but want to get used to the process of shooting with film. For now, I use a Zenit-E.

 

Yes even the 20 mins ones, but get a scan to CD if you dont have a scanner, if you want to use faster than 800 ISO, you will need to photo shop scans individually, to recover nice prints.

 

All the C41 films color and mono get the same processing, sometimes you get scratches or debris as well.

 

Noel

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So ANY photo lab would be able to process C-41 films? Even the 1hour return ones? I bought a couple of Ilford XP2 rolls to try out.

 

A few years ago I took a roll of XP2 to my local 1hr lab and they refused to process it because it was black and white film and would ruin their equipment. I pointed out that yes, it was black and white, but it was C41 and would do no damage. They wouldn't relent, and after a few minutes of trying to persuade them it would be ok I went to a branch of the same lab in the next town and they processed it without any questions.

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hei i want to add something here from my experience, usually my local lab process BW film manually than print it with machine. there's no problem until i gave them BW film with C-41 process only label. They said it has to be process with machine not manually, they ask for my agreement.

Ok when it's done n printed, it's not BW it's sepia or not pure BW have slight of color?????

what's wrong?? the process?? should it be done manually like usual??

thanks for your info

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Hi

You will find that some lab prints are a little sepia from b/w C41 negs -it's from the print machine - not the neg.

However when you print them yourself they will print fine as b/w silverprint - If you don't have access to a darkroom then ask if they can be printed on b/w paper.

 

Or is there a pro. b/w printer who could do prints for you?

 

Best is to do them yourself - more fun that way!

Tony:)

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A few years ago I took a roll of XP2 to my local 1hr lab and they refused to process it because it was black and white film and would ruin their equipment. I pointed out that yes, it was black and white, but it was C41 and would do no damage. They wouldn't relent, and after a few minutes of trying to persuade them it would be ok I went to a branch of the same lab in the next town and they processed it without any questions.

 

Its a while since I was involved in C41 processing (we had a dip and dunk machine at the School of Art & Design) but I seem to remember that there was a limit set to the amount of chromogenic B&W you were supposed to put through (as a percentage of throughput) before you ran the risk of affecting the chemicals.

The students were more interested in puttinh E6 through C41 (and vica versa) as a rule, so process control was fun :rolleyes:

 

Gerry

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hei i want to add something here from my experience, usually my local lab process BW film manually than print it with machine. there's no problem until i gave them BW film with C-41 process only label. They said it has to be process with machine not manually, they ask for my agreement.

Ok when it's done n printed, it's not BW it's sepia or not pure BW have slight of color?????

what's wrong?? the process?? should it be done manually like usual??

thanks for your info

 

The C41 robot (mini lab) is necessary for color C41 or mono C41 unless they can process C41 manually, which you can do but would cost more, robots cheap...

The negative film when it is color is printed by another robot machine, and it normally is a match to the outside world red phone boxes red etc. But the operators do have to set the machine up to get a resonable match.

The negative film if it is put through the same robot machine when it is mono can appear on prints as serpia (or other colors), the dependency is which film you have used Kodak may be more neutral in color, but Fiji and Ilford probably quaint in color, the operator would have to rebalance the machine for your (Ilford or Fuji) film and then rebalance it for the next color film and they probably dont bother.

If you look at a Kodak mono it will be orange (color flm is also orange) I think the Ilford and Fuji are grey. Not got samples to hand. You have been using Ilford or Fuji? If you ask for a reprint they should be able to get it near to black and white, but it wont look exact. If you ask for it to be printed as mono film it will probably cost more.

Ilford would print it as real mono film but that is more expensive.

 

Noel

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