BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Traditional Film Photography

photo devoping

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February 11, 2008

The Kodak designation CX identifies Kodak color negative film manufactured between 1963 and 1974. This film is process C-22 a predecessor to the current C-41 color negative film process. This film will be destroyed if processed in modern chemistry (C-41). Write or check the web - Rocky Mountain Film Lab Dept C-22 560 Geneva St. Aurora, CO 80010.

Film size 126 pairs off to a series of cameras make by Kodak and others know collectively as “Instamatic”. These cameras were highly successful point and shoots. Heretofore, “Farther” had been the family picture taker. With the introduction of the “Instamatic” Mom became the family picture taker. The film was pre-loaded into a plastic cassette that simply dropped into the rear of the camera. The film was actually 35mm color negative stock perforated only on one side only. This method provided a larger image area measuring 26.5 x 26.5 mm. The image area and imasge locations on the film was pre-determined by the pattern of the sprocket holes plus each image location had a pre-exposed black border around it. This pre-flashed border allowed high speed printing using printers with a sloppy film advance mechanism. The normal print size returned to the customer was 3 ½ x 3 ½ inches or in some cases 4 x 4 inches.

Likely the film is damaged due to age and poor storage conditions - high heat and humidity. Additionally as film ages silver salts not exposed are tripped off by background radiation and natural instability. Expect poor images at best.

Dependent on you budget you might choose to decline to have the film developed.

An alternative path:
It was not too uncommon during that era for labs to err and mistakenly process this film in black & white chemistry. This resulted in a black & white negative image far darker than normal with a veiled orange tinge. It was standard practice to attempt to save this film. First we made black & white prints. The prints produced were poor quality however suitable as “record” quality. Next the film was placed in C-22 bleach (a normal chemical step of the C-22 process). Then the film was washed in running water and then sent completely thought the C-22 process in the normal way. This resulted in film with a sub-standard color image that was however printable.

I am suggesting that if the price for processing is outside your budget you might consider having this film processed and printed at a local lab as if it were black & white. Most any lab processing black & white film can accomplish. Likely if any images are obtainable they will be revealed in this way. Perhaps if you deem the images worthy, Rocky Mountain Lab will attempt a recovery as I described above.
Naturally, you bet hope for good images will be obtained if the film is processed in C-22 chemistry.

Alan Marcus, Anaheim CA
ammarcus@earthlink.net

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February 12, 2008

Alan Marcus
ammarcus@earthlink.net

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February 12, 2008