GerdK
Hello dear readers,
For developing my colour negatives using the C41 process, I have so far been using ‘Negacolor’ from the Dutch company Amaloco. I have no complaints about the quality of the developed films. The shelf life of the concentrates is also very good.
However: If I want to carry out the development of a film, I have to prepare a working solution for six films, as the instructions state that partial withdrawals from the developer concentrate bottle (50ml) are not possible. Of course, I cannot pour the remaining developer into a bottle that is already full to the brim. Naturally, it would take me 2.5 months to develop 6 colour negative films – I mainly shoot b/w and colour slides – and by then the developer would have gone off, especially in summer. On the other hand, I can keep used developer in 100 ml glass bottles filled to the brim, which have a plastic cone seal in the lid (airtight), for six months without it showing any signs of deterioration.
Now my two questions:
1) Can I conclude that fresh developer will keep just as long in the glass bottles described above? If so, where could I find these bottles?
2) Does anyone know of a developing kit for the C-41 process that allows partial use for just one film without affecting the shelf life of the remaining concentrate? I would also be grateful for any information on a powder developing kit (C-41) that contains pre-portioned sachets for a single film.
Thanks, Gerd
Gast
Hello, GerdK,
Without wishing to step on FOTOIMPEX’s toes: there is another supplier that sells a C-41 chemical kit in which the developer is also packaged in 50ml bottles and is explicitly suitable for partial processing. Of course, larger containers are also available, and both the developer and Blix can be ordered separately. I also think I’ve read somewhere that the product is a Dutch brand, distributed exclusively in Germany by this supplier.
I use this product for my C-41 development. I can confirm that partial batches are no problem at all.
Best regards,
Michael Laun
fotohuisrovo
I think you’re talking about the Mononegacolor C41 process from Amaloco.
These are available in K50 1×6 film packs and K54 4×6 film packs.
The C41 developer in the Monoconcentrate is packaged in 50 ml bottles.
It’s not impossible to make a partial batch if you want to develop fewer films at a time. It just means the capacity will be reduced.
It is, of course, possible to divide the 500 ml working batch straight away into two 250 ml portions and develop three 135-36 roll films. The unused 250 ml can be stored in a full 250 ml bottle for up to 10 weeks.
The Monoblix working solution can still be used for up to 12 weeks.
Best regards,
Fotohuis RoVo
Robert Vonk
GerdK
Thanks Robert and Michael,
for your tips. I’ll give the 250 ml bottles a go. I’ll let you know how it goes later – though by ‘later’ I mean more than six months from now.
Bye, Gerd
