The orange base is a traditional tint of color negatives since forever. It's there for old-school RA-4 color printing, IE in a darkroom with an enlarger, photo paper and chemicals. I think it originally was used to adjust color response and rendering for that. The base isn't tinted that color, it is developed in the emulsion like all the other colors. There is a lot of interpretation that goes into scanning color negs. Don't be afraid to adjust those colors and curves where you like them.
It isn't there just for RA4 printing and this color isn't developed in the emulsion. It's quite literally the opposite. If you just fix a color film it will still be orange because the mask is present only in the areas where there's no dye, it gets destroyed by formation of a dye. It is there because any dye isn't perfect, e.g. magenta dye will be slightly reddish(parasitic yellow), cyan slightly blueish(parasitic magenta). So masking is beneficial in hybrid process too
To be fair for people who buy Aerocolor IV from Kodak directly, they legally cannot divulge the source of the film. I'm glad you like this! The orange mask I believe is there so it can accurately reproduce colors when printed ... something Aeorocolor is not intended for. So maybe it's a cost savings to just not have the Estar base be orange, or because of the atmospheric conditions it's intended for, maybe it doesn't actually need that correction. I really missed my exposure when I attempted to cross process it in E6, as well. I will also do a -2 exposure (probably at camera) next time I shoot it that way, too. I'm pretty sure this is what Catlabs 100 is ... which means I desperately need to buy some soon. Good review, as usual!
COST SAVINGS!!! That makes so much sense, I hadn't even considered it. Doh. Thank you for mentioning that! I had fun watching your video on Aerocolor- makes me wish I had shot more portraits on this because yours came out SO WELL. Also validating to hear you had the same exposure issues when cross processing...good to know for next time!
Aw, thank you! I could see that the E6 process definitely had promise ... And I just got super sidetracked after seeing that Lomochrome Color '92 is out in 120 now ...
I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to make such a variety of photos. Most often on youtube you find that people will say they take a variety but it's usually referring to dynamic range shoots, which is fine but this, I feel, is more useful. I did want to nitpick for a sec though, haha. Remjet is a chemical backing found on most cinema film. You have to process those films in ECN2 chemicals. BUT if you were to remove the remjet layer, you can process the film in C41 chems. This is actually how cinestill makes their film. They receive kodak vision cinema film, remove the remjet and spool it onto 35mm or 120 rolls. Reflx lab probably mentioned there was no remjet to signify that you can process in C41 chemicals and because there are a lot of companies selling repackaged kodak vision film for use in stills cameras. There's a really good chance you'll find a roll of some 500T film that hasn't had the remjet removed and so it's nice of them to let us know this doesn't need that. You can cross process all C41 film in E6 and get a positive image on your film. Editing to add that cross processed color negative film usually looks funky. If you edit your shots in lightroom and select a white balance point (select a place that would normally be the color white) your photos will have more of a natural look to them. There will still be some funky colors but you get closer to what you might have shot. Hope that helps, love your channel!
I’ve shot the Santa Color version and loved it! I found it tricky with portraits, but that might be just me, being a beginner. I love the halations and the 90s vibe it gives!
I just tried Flic Film’s version, Electra something, and loved it for all the reasons you did. It’s fun stuff. I shot mine on a garden tour and the colors are so pretty.
so glad to have found your channel through your ilford 3200 review (although i do plan on shooting a gig i'm going with the roll i bought, i feel like i've lowered my expectations which is probably good 😅) i'm definitely going to try out this film now if i can get my hands on it here in germany 🤞
The orange mask does two things: 1) It's anti-halation, which there are other ways of doing but it's a cheap one. The backmost layer of the film is red so the orange base absorbs a lot of that and stops it bouncing back and exposing red again. 2) It corrects for some imperfect dyes that are off of the tones they should be on their own. This can be overcome as far as I understand with just more dye types and more expensive dyes, it's only for mass producible cheaper dyes. Aerocolor is made higher quality basically so its dyes don't need correction
Now I want to get a roll of this and see how it compares to my favorite color filmstock, Fuji Superia X-tra, which has excellent green tones. Since I can't seem to find the Fuji anywhere these days, this could be a good alternative.
I shot the washi version of this. I have yet to develop it though. looks guiltily towards +-30 rolls waiting to be developed. but your video makes me excited to see what comes out.
I shot over 100 rolls of Kodak proimage 100 in less then about a yearspan during 2018-2019 when it used to cost $21 for a pack of five 36exp rolls. What I see in this film you used reminds me of exactly that film stock. Not sure if their chemistry is anyway related.
I suspect they are related, and I've heard this from a few people! I don't think it's the same emulsion, but I think there's a lot of similarities and they could probably be called sister stocks in a way
If you love the look of aeroCHROME, you can convert a digital camera to panchromatic (remove the hot mirror, many companies do this for $250 or so) and then buy an aerochrome mimicking filter which does an excellent job of getting the exact same look, for ... $0 a frame, cause it's digital then.
i forget where i heard it but apparently the clear film base was so that more information could be understood just by projecting the negatives like slide film. the ppl in the plane could rapidly develop the roll and look at the more easily discernable base to narrow down what they were looking for or what more needed to be captured. if that makes sense
oh also, discovered this channel yesterday and am quickly becoming absolutely obsessed. criminally underrated, and a step above many of your cotemporaries!
Aye thank you so much! Sorry I just saw this comment, but I'm glad you're liking my content and I hope you enjoy my future videos just as much. :D@@mp3style
I love aerocolor, might be my favorite. The colors are just so nice. I've been meaning to try E6 with it too but I've had trouble finding it and when I do it's $16 and not transparently labeled as aerocolor (looking at you catlabs). If I had to guess about the clear base, it seems like it increases contrast? Wolfen has a clear base and I've found that pretty high contrast and so does ektachrome which I found also has good contrast. I think that allowing the most possible light through the negative by not doing orange mask is responsible for the punchy colors and contrast?
The orange base is a traditional tint of color negatives since forever. It's there for old-school RA-4 color printing, IE in a darkroom with an enlarger, photo paper and chemicals. I think it originally was used to adjust color response and rendering for that. The base isn't tinted that color, it is developed in the emulsion like all the other colors. There is a lot of interpretation that goes into scanning color negs. Don't be afraid to adjust those colors and curves where you like them.
It isn't there just for RA4 printing and this color isn't developed in the emulsion. It's quite literally the opposite. If you just fix a color film it will still be orange because the mask is present only in the areas where there's no dye, it gets destroyed by formation of a dye. It is there because any dye isn't perfect, e.g. magenta dye will be slightly reddish(parasitic yellow), cyan slightly blueish(parasitic magenta). So masking is beneficial in hybrid process too
To be fair for people who buy Aerocolor IV from Kodak directly, they legally cannot divulge the source of the film. I'm glad you like this! The orange mask I believe is there so it can accurately reproduce colors when printed ... something Aeorocolor is not intended for. So maybe it's a cost savings to just not have the Estar base be orange, or because of the atmospheric conditions it's intended for, maybe it doesn't actually need that correction. I really missed my exposure when I attempted to cross process it in E6, as well. I will also do a -2 exposure (probably at camera) next time I shoot it that way, too. I'm pretty sure this is what Catlabs 100 is ... which means I desperately need to buy some soon. Good review, as usual!
COST SAVINGS!!! That makes so much sense, I hadn't even considered it. Doh. Thank you for mentioning that! I had fun watching your video on Aerocolor- makes me wish I had shot more portraits on this because yours came out SO WELL. Also validating to hear you had the same exposure issues when cross processing...good to know for next time!
Aw, thank you! I could see that the E6 process definitely had promise ... And I just got super sidetracked after seeing that Lomochrome Color '92 is out in 120 now ...
great video! Gave me all the info I was looking for! Looking into the 220 version of this film
Great review ! I’m headed over to their website to order some !
I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to make such a variety of photos. Most often on youtube you find that people will say they take a variety but it's usually referring to dynamic range shoots, which is fine but this, I feel, is more useful.
I did want to nitpick for a sec though, haha. Remjet is a chemical backing found on most cinema film. You have to process those films in ECN2 chemicals. BUT if you were to remove the remjet layer, you can process the film in C41 chems. This is actually how cinestill makes their film. They receive kodak vision cinema film, remove the remjet and spool it onto 35mm or 120 rolls.
Reflx lab probably mentioned there was no remjet to signify that you can process in C41 chemicals and because there are a lot of companies selling repackaged kodak vision film for use in stills cameras. There's a really good chance you'll find a roll of some 500T film that hasn't had the remjet removed and so it's nice of them to let us know this doesn't need that.
You can cross process all C41 film in E6 and get a positive image on your film.
Editing to add that cross processed color negative film usually looks funky. If you edit your shots in lightroom and select a white balance point (select a place that would normally be the color white) your photos will have more of a natural look to them. There will still be some funky colors but you get closer to what you might have shot.
Hope that helps, love your channel!
I’ve shot the Santa Color version and loved it! I found it tricky with portraits, but that might be just me, being a beginner. I love the halations and the 90s vibe it gives!
Yesss the 90s vibe! I think the Santacolor is the most common from what I've seen- its packaging really nails the vintage feel for me haha
I just tried Flic Film’s version, Electra something, and loved it for all the reasons you did. It’s fun stuff. I shot mine on a garden tour and the colors are so pretty.
Wonderful and informative video... also, love the use of Chopin’s Op. 64 No. 2
The edited shots remind me of shots I've taken on UltraMax. Similar punchy contrast
so glad to have found your channel through your ilford 3200 review (although i do plan on shooting a gig i'm going with the roll i bought, i feel like i've lowered my expectations which is probably good 😅) i'm definitely going to try out this film now if i can get my hands on it here in germany 🤞
The orange mask does two things: 1) It's anti-halation, which there are other ways of doing but it's a cheap one. The backmost layer of the film is red so the orange base absorbs a lot of that and stops it bouncing back and exposing red again. 2) It corrects for some imperfect dyes that are off of the tones they should be on their own. This can be overcome as far as I understand with just more dye types and more expensive dyes, it's only for mass producible cheaper dyes. Aerocolor is made higher quality basically so its dyes don't need correction
Gostei bastante do resultado.
Now I want to get a roll of this and see how it compares to my favorite color filmstock, Fuji Superia X-tra, which has excellent green tones. Since I can't seem to find the Fuji anywhere these days, this could be a good alternative.
Sorry to bring bad news: Fuji stopped manufacturing Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400 earlier this year
Hey, you mentioned me (QuantumTarsus) in your video! Subbed! :)
Heya!! Such a small world in this community, thank you for watching and for the sub! And for the info haha
I shot the washi version of this. I have yet to develop it though. looks guiltily towards +-30 rolls waiting to be developed. but your video makes me excited to see what comes out.
30 ROLLS!!! I would be in nervous sweats over that haha. I hope it comes out well!
I shot over 100 rolls of Kodak proimage 100 in less then about a yearspan during 2018-2019 when it used to cost $21 for a pack of five 36exp rolls. What I see in this film you used reminds me of exactly that film stock. Not sure if their chemistry is anyway related.
I suspect they are related, and I've heard this from a few people! I don't think it's the same emulsion, but I think there's a lot of similarities and they could probably be called sister stocks in a way
If you love the look of aeroCHROME, you can convert a digital camera to panchromatic (remove the hot mirror, many companies do this for $250 or so) and then buy an aerochrome mimicking filter which does an excellent job of getting the exact same look, for ... $0 a frame, cause it's digital then.
i forget where i heard it but apparently the clear film base was so that more information could be understood just by projecting the negatives like slide film. the ppl in the plane could rapidly develop the roll and look at the more easily discernable base to narrow down what they were looking for or what more needed to be captured. if that makes sense
oh also, discovered this channel yesterday and am quickly becoming absolutely obsessed. criminally underrated, and a step above many of your cotemporaries!
Aye thank you so much! Sorry I just saw this comment, but I'm glad you're liking my content and I hope you enjoy my future videos just as much. :D@@mp3style
I love aerocolor, might be my favorite. The colors are just so nice. I've been meaning to try E6 with it too but I've had trouble finding it and when I do it's $16 and not transparently labeled as aerocolor (looking at you catlabs).
If I had to guess about the clear base, it seems like it increases contrast? Wolfen has a clear base and I've found that pretty high contrast and so does ektachrome which I found also has good contrast. I think that allowing the most possible light through the negative by not doing orange mask is responsible for the punchy colors and contrast?
have you tried 400D? what ISO would you rate that ?
Does anyone have any experience shooting this film pushed 1 stop?
hope u blow up
I hope so tooooo! Thank you for watching :D