This is because conventional photographic films have an anti-halation layer that absorbs scattered light, while HIE lacks this backing.

Nonetheless, HIE was produced without a gray base and anti-halation layers so that sensitivity would be increased by allowing light to reflect back and forth, and because it was difficult to find any way of treating the film that would be effective at infrared wavelengths.

HIE featured a polyester film base that was very stable but susceptible to scratches, and therefore required extra care during development, processing and scanning.

As of November 2, 2007, "Kodak is preannouncing the discontinuance" of HIE Infrared 35 mm film stating the reasons that, "Demand for these products has been declining significantly in recent years, and it is no longer practical to continue to manufacture given the low volume, the age of the product formulations and the complexity of the processes involved.

"[2][3] At the time of this notice, HIE Infrared 135-36 was available at a street price of around $12 a roll at US mail order outlets.