TETENAL 102035 COLORTEC E-6 3-BATH PROCESS User Manual

: June 5, 2024
: TETENAL

TETENAL COLORTEC E-6 3

3-BATH • 3-BAD

INSTRUCTION FOR USE

Kit for 1 | Art.Nr. 102035
Kit for 2,5 | Art.Nr. 102036

COLORTEC E-6 3-BATH PROCESS

TETENAL COLORTEC E-6 3-BATH chemicals enable the development of colour reversal films designed for process E-6 in developing tanks - for inversion or rotary development. COLORTEC KITS contain concentrates for mixing all processing baths: First Developer, Colour Developer, Bleach Fix and Stabilizer.

COLORTEC E-3 Bath

Kit for 1 litre Art. No. 102035
Kit for 2.5 litres Art. No. 102036

CAPACITY

Film format	135-36	120	220	4×5″
Kit for 1 litre	12	12	6	49
Kit for 2.5 litres	30	30	15	124

The maximum capacity for the individual film formats is achieved by optimally loading the developing tank and by multiple use of the processing chemicals. Please see additional information in the chapter “Temperatures Times Filling quantities”. As a general rule as many films as possible should be developed at a time in order to keep the number of development cycles low and thereby minimise the load on the chemicals.

PACK CONTENTS

| | Kit for 1 litre| Kit for 2.5 litres
---|---|---|---
First Developer| FD| 200 ml conc.| 500 ml conc.
Colour Developer| CD Part 1| 200 ml conc.| 500 ml conc.
Colour Developer| CD Part 2| 200 ml conc.| 500 ml conc.
Bleach Fix| BX Part 1| 200 ml conc.| 500 ml conc.
Bleach Fix| BX Part 2| 200 ml conc.| 500 ml conc.
Stabilizer| STAB| 200 ml conc.| 500 ml conc.

E-6 3-BATH PROCESS

The E-6 3-bath process passes through different chemical baths and water washes in succession.

First Developer Water wash
Colour Developer Water wash
Bleach Fix Water wash
Stabilizer Drying

Films to be developed are wound onto film reels in complete darkness and inserted in a developing tank, after which the developing tank must be closed light safe by putting on the lid carefully. The development can then take place in room light / daylight.

DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR THE PROCESSING METHOD

Depending on the available laboratory equipment, the developing process can be carried out in different ways – manually or automatically. The simpler the equipment, the more difficult is the required exact adherence to the process parameters. The requirements for exact and constant temperature control of the chemicals are particularly high – they are easiest and safest to fulfil when using a colour processor.

OPTION: COLOUR PROCESSOR

(automatic temperature control . automatic agitation)

Colour processors , e.g. from JOBO, enable an exact and constant adherence to the processing parameters. The developing tank is motor-driven and rotates in a temperature-controlled water bath that also keeps the bottles with the processing chemicals at the right temperature.

OPTION: TEMPERATURE CONTROL UNIT

automatic temperature control . manual agitation)

When using a temperature control unit , the bottles with the processing chemicals as well as the developing tank are heated to the pre-set temperature in a temperature-controlled water bath. The agitation of the developing tank (180° turn upside down and back) is done manually. During the first 15 seconds, tilt constantly, then tilt once every 15 seconds.

OPTION: WATER BATH

(manual temperature control . manual agitation)

If neither a tempering unit nor a colour processor is available, a manually tempered water bath can be used as an alternative. A photo tray with a high rim is ideal. In this case, both the developing tank and the bottles with the processing chemicals are tempered. To keep the temperature constant, hot or cold water can be added. The agitation of the developing tank (180° turn upside down and back) is done manually. Tilt constantly during the first 15 seconds, then tilt once every 15 seconds.

MIXING OF THE PROCESSING CHEMICALS

First Developer, Bleach Fix and Stabilizer can be mixed in one and the same vessel – provided it is cleaned thoroughly with plenty of water after each mixing.
The mixing vessel and the mixing rod for the Colour Developer must never be used for the preparation of any other chemicals.

Ideally, the processing chemicals should be prepared in different vessels with separate mixing rods to exclude a potential contamination of the individual baths.

Cleanliness of the equipment used is very important, including a clean water bath and perfect tightness of the tank lids. After each temperature measurement, the thermometer must be rinsed well with water – never change directly from one bath to another.

Never leave concentrates and working solutions of First Developer and Colour Developer open next to each other! Some plastics adsorb traces of Colour Developer strongly and permanently. Therefore clean tank, lids and film reels thoroughly with water after each development run and dry completely before the next run, e.g. with a hair dryer. Any contamination of the First Developer with Colour Developer (also vapours) will lead to an error result, the deep blacks will then only be grey.

MIXING OF THE PROCESSING CHEMICALS

FIRST DEVELOPER FD

Water

| + FD concentrate| = Working solution
---|---|---
200 ml| 50 ml|

250 ml

264 ml

| 66 ml| 330 ml
400 ml| 100 ml|

500 ml

528 ml

| 132 ml| 660 ml
800 ml| 200 ml|

1000 ml

2000 ml

| 500 ml|

2500 ml

The First Developer should always be prepared first. Close the bottle with the working solution immediately after mixing to prevent from a possible contamination of the First Developer by the Colour Developer or by vapours from the Colour Developer.

COLOUR DEVELOPER CD

Water	+ CD Part 1	+ CD Part 2	= Working solution
150 ml	50 ml	50 ml	250 ml
198 ml	66 ml	66 ml	330 ml
300 ml	100 ml	100 ml	500 ml
396 ml	132 ml	132 ml	660 ml
600 ml	200 ml	200 ml	1000 ml
1500 ml	500 ml	500 ml	2500 ml

The part concentrates of the Colour Developer must be measured out very precisely, even small deviations can change the colour balance. Freshly prepared Colour Developer working solution is violet coloured, after some standing time it turns yellowish.

BLEACH FIX BX

Water	+ BX Part 1	+ BX Part 2	= Working solution
150 ml	50 ml	50 ml	250 ml
198 ml	66 ml	66 ml	330 ml
300 ml	100 ml	100 ml	500 ml
396 ml	132 ml	132 ml	660 ml
600 ml	200 ml	200 ml	1000 ml
1500 ml	500 ml	500 ml	2500 ml

STABILIZER STAB

Water	+ STAB concentrate	= Working solution
200 ml	50 ml	250 ml
264 ml	66 ml	330 ml
400 ml	100 ml	500 ml
528 ml	132 ml	660 ml
800 ml	200 ml	1000 ml
2000 ml	500 ml	2500 ml

Demineralised water should be used for mixing the Stabilizer.

TEMPERATURES . TIMES . FILLING VOLUMES

Precise adherence to the time and temperature specifications is important for high quality development and for reproducibility of the results. This is especially the case for the First Developer.

In the interest of a particularly economical processing, multiple use (2 nd and 3rd USE) of the working solutions is possible in principle – in the interest of the greatest possible and constant quality , the chemicals should only be used one time (1-SHOT) , ideally applying an optimal loading of the tank with films.

1-SHOT

| 2 nd USE|

3 rd USE

---|---|---|---
Filling volume 250 ml| | Film 1| Film 2| Film 3*
Film 1 & 2
Filling volume 330 ml| Film 1,2| Film 3,4| /
Filling volume 500 ml| Film 1,2| Film 3,4| Film 5,6
Filling volume 660 ml| Film 1,2,3| Film 4,5,6| Film 7,8
Filling volume 750 ml| Film 1,2,3| Film 4,5,6| Film 7,8,9
Filling volume 1000 ml| Film 1,2,3,4| Film 5,6,7,8| Film 9,10,11,12
| Temperature °C / °F|

Time

Pre-warming the tank|

38 ± 0,5
100 ± 1

| 2:00| 2:00|