C-41 process

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C-41 is the name given to the process for developing a specific type of color print film used in photography and often to the type of film itself. As of 2005, C-41 (also known as CN-16 by Fuji and AP-70 by AGFA) is the most popular film process in use, with just about every photofinishing lab having at least one machine specifically devoted to developing this type of film. C-41 processing can develop both 35mm film and Advanced Photo System film.

The film for C-41 consists of a gelatin film base overlaid with colored emulsions. When exposed to light different colored dyes in the emulsions act as filters so that specific layers within the emulsions are sensitive to different colors in the optical spectrum. The film is then developed using a developer based on conventional black and white film developer. However, the developer also includes specific additions to develop the dye-couplers in the film emulsion layers into visible dyes. The control of temperature and agitation of the film in the developer is critical in obtaining consistent results. Development is followed by immersion in a mildly acidic stop bath or rinse to halt the development action, and then by a combined bleach-fix which both dissolves the silver generated by development and removes undeveloped silver halide. It is also possible and more environmentally friendly to have a separate Bleach and Fix, as it is easier to remove silver from the solution through electrolis and then reuse the fixer, an additive can be added to the bleach only bath to make it reusable, less waste goes to drain. This is followed by thorough washing. This process is fairly familiar in photography, but for C-41 the chemical composition and relative strength of the developer and fixer are unique and specific, as is the way the emulsions are laid on the base.

The resulting film is a negative, meaning that the darkest spots on the film are those areas that were brightest in the source. This result occurs because it is exposure to light and development that converts the photographic silver halides into black metallic silver. Couplers during development cause dyes to be produced in the layers, the bleach then converts the silver back to the original state and the fix removes the silver from the film, the last bath is a stabiliser and wetting agent which allows the film to dry evenly without streaks. All C-41 films also include an additional orange mask to offset the optical inadequacies of the dye layers in the film. C-41 negatives always appear orange when viewed directly but this orange base is compensated for in the formulation of colour print materials.

The finished negative may then be printed using colour photo paper to get a positive image.

While C-41 usually considered a color process, Kodak manufactures a chromogenic black and white film called BW400CN that is processed using the C-41 process. Ilford, a British company noted for their loyalty towards black and white film photography, produces a chromogenic film known as XP2 Super and Fuji produce a film called Neopan 400CN. Commercially produced prints from these brands of film will often have a colored hue to them, but printed on standard black and white papers they are indistinguishable from images made using standard black and white films, except for the absence of grain in the image. These films have the advantage that they can be processed by one hour photo shops, and although rated at 400 ISO they have a wide range of exposure at which they will yield a usable negative, between 100 and 800 ISO.

It is also possible to cross-process slide film for the E-6 process in C-41 (for 23 years the predicessor was C22), which yields negatives with a color shift and stronger saturation, and vice versa, yielding slides. This process is popular in Lomography where the saturated colorful result adds to the image. It is also possible to process Kodak Ektachrome in C41, which provides a negative without the orange integral layer. Printers have to be specially set up to be able to print these very contrasty negatives.de:C-41 pl:C-41 ru:Процесс C-41