C-41 process

These couplers, located in the blue-, green-, and red-sensitive layers, produce yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes, respectively, when developed.

[2]: 2–6 The illustrative example outlined above differs from the design of actual film, in respect to the number of layers.

Individual layers have different speed and contrast characteristics, allowing the film to be correctly exposed over a wider range of lighting conditions.

Light is projected through the finished negative onto color photographic paper, yielding positive image prints.

The control of temperature and agitation of the film in the developer is critical in obtaining consistent, accurate results.

Incorrect temperature can result in severe color shifts or significant under- or overdevelopment of the film.

Kodak recommends an additional duration of 30 seconds in the developer bath to push certain films by one stop.

[citation needed] It is also possible to cross-process slide film for the E-6 process in C-41, which yields negatives with a color shift and stronger saturation.

C-41 film also may be processed in E-6, yielding positive images with a strong green cast, caused by the orange mask.

C-41 film can be processed in standard black-and-white chemicals, to produce a monochrome negative image.

The negatives will typically be of very low contrast, and cloudy, partly caused by the orange mask.

While C-41 is usually considered a color process, Ilford currently manufactures a "chromogenic" C-41 compatible black-and-white film, XP2 Super.

Instead, C-41 negatives and prints have clouds of dye, causing the resulting image to appear different from that of silver grain.