Cross process color neg in B&W chemicals

Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 109 Location: Womelsdorf, Pa

What happens when I process color print film in traditional B&W chemicals. Also, what if I then print this neg on B&W paper.

I have about 2 dozen rolls of color print film that I don't use since most of my color work is digital. I regularly shoot B&W film, because the results are far better than digital B&W. I have color negs I can try printing on B&W paper, but if someone out there knows of how to do this or what will work / not work I'm be glad for some guidance.

Thanks

Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 114 Location: Boston, MA

Nothing happens except for you not getting any images.

X-process happens between Color Neg and Color Chromes. c-41 and e-6 films can be x-processed in either or.

If you x-process a color Neg in e-6 you end up with a positive instead of a neg. The contrast will be high and the orange neutral base of the color neg will become a color cast on the slide. The shadows will become very dark and color saturation will be high. its recomended to overexpose by 1 stop. Try this with kodak 160UC or 160VC

If you x-process a color chrome in c-41 ( which is usually how its done) you get a neg that you can now make a print with. The color saturation is very high and the highlights will be blown out which is why its recomended to underexpose by a stop. I have done several projects all x-process and they come out absolutely beautiful if you get your exposure correct. Works well with FujiChrome Velvia and Provia ( there will be a huge amount of either yellow or green cast ) Kodak E200 works pretty good too and doesnt leave such a color cast. If you want to try either process use outdated film..since your going to be throwing the color off anyway....Go to your photo store and ask for expired film. they will sell it cheap or give it away. You may need to use a pro lab since your average 1 hour photo wont do E-6 and most likely if they do the person running the machine will tell you your nuts.

Now on to the big question...
C-41 and E-6 are additive and subtractive processes. The film is contains 3 color layers R/G/B. as each layer is developed it is then Bleached
off and fixed . It is a long process that involves the chemicals to be within a .25 degrees of each other. But the processes are similiar enough ( one subtractive, one additive) in chemistry that you can x-process......

Black and white chemistry is just Developer, which is a base and dissolves the silver halide salts on the film that have not been exposed to light. Stop bath, which is Acetic acid that neutralizes the developer and stops the reaction. And Fixer, which is again a base and hardens and renders the remaining silver halide non photo reacitve.

So you cant x-process over in Black and white because the chemistry is so different or else you end up with a piece of orange film. You can however print black and white negs in a color enlarger on color paper( they come out pretty crazy) and you can print color negs in a black and white enlarger on black and white paper ( obviously they come out as very strange black and white).

I hope that answers your question in detail.

happy shooting

Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 114 Location: Boston, MA

Oh yeah, if you are going to print your color negs on a B/W enlarger on B/W paper know that you will need to use a pretty large aperature..say f/4 or 5.6 on the enlarger lens and alot of time. U will also need to use a high filter..so try a 3 or 4 to get the contrast. it can be done, but its not as easy as popping a B/W neg in and printing

. As far as B/W negs on a color enlarger...ur basically going to have to experiment. Since there is no color in the neg, and the light in the enlarger is white ( so its equal parts R,G,B) the color could be all over the place..or at the very least youll have an extremely high contrast print....do a test print to get the print density right and then see what you have...you may be able to crank up the filter packs on the enlarger to make different areas different colors.... like lets say...you have a large area of sky....you get the exposure for the print and then crank the yellow filter pack all the way up so that no yellow light gets through and you burn the sky in with the blue light. then pick a different spot and try a different filter pack.

have fun

Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 109 Location: Womelsdorf, Pa

Wow- thanks, just saved me a ton of time in the darkroom! Really appreciate it.

Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 114 Location: Boston, MA

No problem...If you have any other questions regarding B/W or color printing ask away...I might be able to help