Photography: Developing C41 color film

Rotunda.

Earlier this year, I started developing my own black and white film. It is a straightforward procedure that allows me to control the entire photography process, from taking the photos to developing the film and finally scanning it. This pushed me to shoot a lot of black and white film, largely ignoring color film. Eventually, I got the urge to go back to color, but I used a local lab to develop the film. It was only a matter of time before I started thinking about developing color film, namely the C41 process, which is the standard for color negative film. I had avoided it before because I was told it is more temperature sensitive than black and white, which can be done at room temperature. After some research, I learned that many people use a sous vide immersion circulator to create and maintain a water bath to achieve the needed temperature. This sounded like a fun experiment, and I quickly got myself an immersion circulator and some CineStill C41 chemicals and developed my first color film!

CineStill’s Color Simplified kit contains powered chemicals to create 1L of the developer and fixer+bleach (blix).

After mixing the chemicals, I put them in 1000ml dark glass bottles, which can be added to a water bath to achieve the needed 102°F for the C41 development process.

I use a sous vide immersion circulator and a water bath to maintain the proper 102°F temperature. I also keep the tank with the film in the bath when I am not agitating it throughout the development process.

Besides maintaining the high temperature of 102°F, developing color film resembles black and white development, basically just pouring different chemicals into a light-sealed development tank containing the film for a select amount of time, to develop and then fix the film. However, since the C41 process is standardized, you can use the same parameters for any type of C41 film you shoot, unlike black and white film, which requires specific parameters based on the film and developer you choose. After bringing the chemicals to temperature, the entire process was easy, albeit messy, since I was continually removing the development tank from the water bath to agitate it to ensure the film was constantly exposed to fresh chemicals. The CineStill’s Color Simplified kit I used should allow me to develop around 24 rolls of 35mm film, which makes the development cost around $1.33.

A Dark Angel looking out over a desolate landscape. Nikon F3 55mm f2.8 micro, Kodak Portra 800.

A creepy bird-headed creature painted by squared_paints! Nikon F3 55mm f2.8 micro, Kodak Gold 200.

An inquisitor painted by squared_paints! Nikon F3 55mm f2.8 micro, Kodak Gold 200.

Plateau. Nikon F3 55mm f2.8 micro, Kodak Portra 800.

I am excited to continue using film in my miniature photography, both color and black and white. It is a rewarding process that anyone should try if they have an interest in it!

- Eric Wier