IT HAD TO END SOMETIME
The only commercial lab in the world that still develops KODACHROME, announced it's last runs of the film through Dwayne's Photo Service in Parsons, Kansas.
Dwayne's says it will develop remaining Kodachrome rolls if they are received by Dec. 30, 2010. After that, forget it.
TECHNICAL
KODACHROME processing has undergone four significant alterations since its inception. The current process is designated Process K-14. The process is complex and exacting, requiring technicians with extensive chemistry training, as well as large, difficult-to-operate machinery. This effectively precludes amateurs or small laboratories from processing Kodachrome.
First, the antihalation backing is removed with an alkaline solution and wash. The film is developed using a developer containing phenidone and hydroquinone, which forms three superimposed negative images, one for each primary color.
After washing out the first developer, the film undergoes re-exposure and re-development stages. Re-exposure exposes the silver halides that are not developed in the first developer, effectively fogging them. A color developer then develops the fogged image, and exhaustion products form a color dye in the color that is complementary to the layer's sensitivity. The red-sensitive layer is re-exposed through the base of the film with red light, and then re-developed with a developer forming cyan dye. The blue-sensitive layer is re-exposed through the emulsion side of the film with blue light, and then re-developed with a developer forming yellow dye. The green-sensitive layer is re-developed with a developer that chemically fogs it, and forms magenta dye. The two light re-exposures must be carefully controlled, so that they do not cause re-exposure of the green-sensitive layer.
Following color development, the metallic silver is converted back to silver halide salts using a bleach solution. The film is then fixed, making these silver halides soluble and leaving only the final dye image. The film is finally washed to remove chemicals which may cause deterioration of the dye image, dried and cut.
TOO BIG TO FAIL OR TOO BIG TO PROCESS
KODACHROME developing is a complex proprietary process, as explained above courtesy of Wikipedia. I'm not a chemist, but 50 years in this business and as a former lab owner the process is enough to scare me and any other brewer from playing with it.
The event was noted in the industry news and sadly accepted by all. It might be a little more sadder if you hoarded the stuff and forget to get it processed by the end of the year. I know a few who have grabbed a brick of two and will find out it might be as bad a last years yogurt or steak sandwich left in the fridge.
If you got it use it now, you have less than 180 days to send it to Dwayne's. Their line again closes by the 30th of December. Those New years party shots will be wasted. Get them to Dwayne's before Christmas and play safe with the postage.
Kodak no longer processes Kodachrome film. Dwayne's Photo, the last independent facility is located in Kansas. Films sent for processing in the U.S. are mailed directly to Dwayne's, while those sent for processing in Europe are sent to the Lausanne facility's address, whence they are forwarded to Dwayne's.
Kodak had previously attempted to increase the availability of K-14 processing through the K-Lab program, where small labs equipped with smaller Kodak processing machines would supplement Kodak's own processing services. These labs have all closed both in the US and world wide.
AGAIN: The process after Dec 30, is dead, period. World wide, thats dead. After the first you might try the Romulans, even the Klingons sold off their machinery to the Ferengi who are upset they got stuck with it.
KODACHROME SLIDE FILM:
ayered look, not the flat tinged two dimensional look of most slide films. To me and some others it was like looking at a Ruth Cris T-bone compared to a McDonalds Quarter pounder.
KODACHROME slide film wasn't just another commercial photographic product. The dyes and emulsions produced an l
Paul Simon wrote a song about it which will be played at the funeral. The classic line being "Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away."
THE LYRICS
When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder I can think at all
And though my lack of edu---cation hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera, I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away
If you took all the girls I knew when I was single
And brought them all together for one night
I know they'd never match my sweet imagination
everything looks WORSE in black and white
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera, I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away
It's time has come. Just as all the other film processes evaporate into the backs of our minds. We the shooters are really the labs now. At the same time, many of us will never forget the color, honesty and truth about Kodachrome film, and that there are good reasons to be sad but it was inevitable.
NEW REPLACES OLD
As a former lab owner, I could tell you as things dwindle down, you run out of things to amortize.
My friend Tom actually had taken a C-41 processor, and converted it to E-6 till that process died off. It needed it own darkroom to load the film, it also needed AC and exhaust fans adding to the cost of the operation.
Off to the junkyard, digital changed the industry, no demand for the E-6 and expensive scans, and no further use for the six step chemistry, with heaters, pumps and circulation problems.
Last week Tom showed me this new Noritsu printer, he and Greg had received. This is a dry digital printer, and I had a chance to see it in action. For a lab junkie this is the Ritz Carlton compared to a Motel Six.
The Noritsu dry processor turns out prints with no chemistry mixing, no temperature controls, no huge standby dead time, no heaters and no smell. Hard to beat. The prints were outstanding and ready to package for pickup, no smudges, less handling. For the owner, lowered chemical costs and storage problems. The paper and the inks were slightly higher but offset by the savings in store electricity for the air conditioning, for the heat being produced by running hot chemistry, related pumps and motors, all day long and you gain back needed floor space, critical in a lab. Most important is less to go wrong.
It's not KODACHROME but then again nothing ever will be. I have seen prints over-saturated, triple exposed HDR formatted... lots of lab time and processing in the computer. With KODACHROME you just clicked the shutter.