E-6 Color Reversal
The standard color reversal (slide) film process. E-6 is more complex than C-41, involving: first developer (B&W), reversal bath or re-exposure, color developer, bleach, fixer, and stabilizer. The first developer creates a negative silver image. The reversal step fogs the remaining unexposed halide, which is then color-developed to form positive dye images. After bleaching and fixing, the result is a positive transparency. Temperature control (38C) is critical. Available as home-processing kits.
Mixing Instructions
Follow kit instructions precisely. E-6 kits (e.g., CineStill E-6, Tetenal E-6) contain pre-measured chemicals for each bath. Typical preparation: dissolve each component or dilute each concentrate in the specified volume of water at the specified temperature. First developer, reversal bath, color developer, conditioner, bleach, fixer, and stabilizer are prepared separately. Temperature control is critical — maintain 38°C ±0.5°C. Process in the exact order and timing specified by the kit. E-6 is less forgiving of temperature variation than C-41.
Process Parameters
| Film Stock | ISO | Dilution | Temp | Time | Agitation | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color Reversal (All) | 400 | stock | 38.0°C | 57:59 (approx.) | Standard E-6 First Developer step. Temperature precision is critical. |