"Some Dude" wrote in message
...
I have some Kodachrome KP40 that i've shot and am
wondering if there
are alternative processes I can use other than sending it
to Kodak for
processing using k-14. Perhaps E6?

I don't care too much about the pics but would like to at
least get a
somewhat visible image.


Thanks!

Cheers,
-sd
http://www.zoom.sh

There is still Kodachrome processing for 35mm film which
should work on the tungsten version. Kodachrome film can be
developed to yield a B&W image by developing it in a
standard developer like D-76. The yellow filter layer is
composed of colloidal silver. It can be bleached without
much damage to the image by using a bleach made of fresh
acid rapid fixer with about 15 grams of Citric Acid added.
This will remove the very fine silver of the filter layer
without affecting the much coarser image silver too much,
but one must be careful of it. You can print with the filter
layer there by using panchromatic paper. I think the only
one left on the market is Kodak Panalure Select. You could
also make a duplicate negative.
The Kodachrome process is very complex. Kodachrome was
commercialized before Kodak had found a way to anchor dyes
in the emulsions to keep them from wandering. Agfa beat them
to the punch with this and Kodak chromogenic films had to
wait until they could come up with an alternative method.
Because the dye formers (or couplers) are in the reversal
developers the film must undergo four separate development
steps with intermediate stop, rinse, etc., steps. The
processing method used since about 1937 works by
differential re-exposure of the color layers so that the
dyes are produced in the desired layer. A first developer is
used that preserves the color sensitivity of the layer
closest to the support. This is a panchromatic layer which
records the red image. After the first development the film
is re-exposed to red light through the base. Only the bottom
layer is sensitive to red light so the other layers are not
made developable. After the bottom layer is re-developed in
a developer containing the red dye former it is exposed to
blue light from the front. The yellow filter layer between
the first and second layers remains intact so only the top
layer is exposed. It is then developed in the developer with
the yellow coupler. The middle (green recording) layer is
developed by use of a fogging agent in the developer, which
produces the magenta layer. After a positive dye image is
produced in all three layers all of the metallic silver is
removed using a dichromate bleach. This also removes the
filter layer, which again, is made of finely devided silver.
The result is a full color positive dye image. Of course,
there are many intermediate steps which I have left out.
The original Kodachrome process, used for only about one
year, required differential penetration of a bleach into the
developed layers. The film was washed and dried between each
development step. Drying was required so that the
permeablity of the gelatin would be predictable.
This was the process used for the very first (1935)
Kodachrome, which was available only as 16mm movie film.
When the differential re-exposure process was introduced the
film was made available in a wide range of sizes including
35mm, roll film, and sheet film up to 16x20 inches. All was
processed at Rochester although Kodak eventually built
processing plants for movie film and roll films in a couple
of other cities.


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Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA