Colour processing C41 or E6?

[mugent]

Hi,

I've done a lot of B&W processing, and usually pretty happy with the results, now I want to try some colour...

Most people seem to do E6 at home, but C41 seems to be more tolerant of temp variations, and less baths, so less complex. I'll be scanning anyway, so I'm not bothered about getting a slide.

Other than being able to use Velvia, is there any other reason I'd want to do E6 rather than C41?

Cheers

MT

 

[Mohan]

I've never tried E6 but recently started C41 at home and couldn't believe how easy it is, much easier than B&W. I'm using the Tetenal kit.

 

[mugent]

I like processing B&W, easy, but tricky enough to give me a sense of accomplishment. 🙂

Thanks for response, I was looking at the Tetenal one.

MT

 

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

Hi,

I've done a lot of B&W processing, and usually pretty happy with the results, now I want to try some colour...

Colour is by cookbook.

Most people seem to do E6 at home, but C41 seems to be more tolerant of temp variations,

Not really. Both are by lab standards quite tolerant. E6 was also designed to allow people to hand process using waterbaths rather than demand special hardware. C-41 is print film and with prints one has quite a lot of latitude. Diapositives (slides) used for projection rather than scanned don't have much latitude so any "errors" introduced in the processing chain can push off the results.. both processes are quite tedious and boring.. and always the same.. that's why people tend to use automated machines for their E6.

Other than being able to use Velvia, is there any other reason I'd want to do E6 rather than C41?

You can't project C41 film. If you don't want to project than C41 is better since its cheaper (both chemicals and film) and its chemicals (the first developer of E6 is a PQ developer) have very long shelf-lives.

 

[Penceler]

I've done both C-41 and E-6 at home using the kits. They're both about the same to me in terms of difficulty. The only "trick" is in creating your process and then following it without deviation.

 

[imokruok]

E6 is more difficult, but not in terms of difficulty of processing. It's just that slide film doesn't have the latitude of negative, so if you "miss" a little with C41, you'll be better off.

For actual process, there is really no difference between C41 and the E6 short process. There is a 6-bath kit for E6 which I prefer and use myself (Kodak) - the only difference in difficulty with that is more containers of solution. As to temp control, once you get past the first couple of steps in the 6-bath kit, temp can be pretty wide.

C41 is easy and quick - and the solution keeps and can be reused multiple times. I haven't decided whether to do it for my film development entirely, because while I think negative longevity may be better with pro development, I have a whole lot more control over dust when I develop at home. I dry and scan right away.