E-6
E-6 is a standardized color development process in the chemical photography to the development of reversal films for color slides . The "E" stands for Ektachrome ; the name comes from the inventor of this process, Kodak . Other companies such as Agfa , Tetenal or Fujifilm offer functionally equivalent slide development processes under different names, for example it was named AP 44 by Agfa .
history
The Ektachrome process E-6 replaced the environmentally harmful predecessor E-4 at Kodak in 1976 , and shortly afterwards it was also adopted as a standard process by other manufacturers. All current reversal films are now developed using the E-6 process; the only exception until 2009 was Kodachrome film. It was processed in the much more complex K-14 process, which was carried out for the last time at the end of 2010.
processing
In its original form, seven baths are required for the E-6 process; it lasts 32 minutes; a shorter and newer version needs three baths and takes 26 minutes. The processing temperature in both cases is 38 degrees Celsius.
Original process
- Initial development
- Reversal bath
- Color development
- Conditioning bath
- Bleach bath
- Fixer
- Stabilizing bath
Shortened process
- Initial development
- Reversal and color development
- Bleach-fix bath
- Stabilizing bath
By changing the process conditions, color-distorting effects can be introduced into slides.