Kat's Notebook

There are 2 kinds of format for the 35mm film: negative or C-41 and the slide E-6. These films are processed by the studio lab with different chemicals. Most photo labs, that of in the drugstores, can only process C-41 films. Slide films need to be processed in a special lab to get a normal picture. With the special chemical, it is more expensive to process E-6 films.

For the lomographers, we don’t have problems with E-6 films because we are fond of the procedure called, “Cross-processing”. To cross process a film simply means to process the film in other chemicals than those originally intended by the manufacturer. So different types of cross processing are: e6 in c41, c41 in e6, c41 or e6 in black and white chemicals, films that were made for discontinued processes processed in c-41 or e-6. E-6 in C-41 is the most conventional one. A cross-processed E-6 will give out a saturated, sometimes very washed out, low or strong contrast pictures.

There are many kinds of slide films. To immediately identify them from a c-41 film, slide films usually have “chrome” in the brand name. These films will give different effect. Tip of an x-proer: While shooting, underexpose the film rather than overexpose. When developing, ask the lab to push 2-3 stops. Here are observations from lomographers who have cross-processed their E-6 films:

FUJI

Sensia 100 – magenta shift
Sensia 200- green/blue… even yellow?
Sensia 400- green

Provia 100- green
Provia 100f = cyan
Provia 400F – green
Provia 1600-

Velvia 50-green/blue.
Velvia 100- red/magenta
Velvia 100F- bring out reds and magentas

Fujifilm Fujichrome 64T = Gold/green

Fuji Astia 100 – yellow
Astia 100F- red (with flash, foreground can be white)

KODAK

E100VS under exposure – green
E100 G – no color shift , color saturate
E 100GP – no color shift , color saturate

Kodak Elitechrome 100 – aqua (?)/green.

Kodak Elitechrome 200-mild green/blue color shift, saturated. (shot at 125)
Kodak Elitechrome 400 – no colour shift, just saturation

Kodak Ektachrome 64T-blue

KONICA
Konica Centuria 100 – yellow/ pale green, coarse grain, shadows. Yellow highlights, green shadows

AGFA
Agfa precisa 100 – no colour shift but gorgeous blues, strong contrast

These are some of my cross-processed pictures. I forgot which films they were but I only have Kodak elitechrome 100, Fuji Velvia 100, Fuji Provia 100.

For those who are debating whether to cross-process or not, I suggest you go ahead and cross-process. Personally I love using slide films and have it x-pro. Pictures turn out fun and funky!

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3. Film Photography: Getting Started
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