Bleaching out C41 orange mask?

<p>I noticed that when I processed C41 films as positives at hom, using Xtol as a first developer (1+1, 40c, 40min), light reversal and then C41 developer as the colour developer, the image comes out nice, but I notice I have regular chromes (with some give or take on the colour balance, but not a whole lot) - the orange mask is gone.<br>

When I do the same but with Rodinal/R09 one shot, the orange mask is there in all it's glory.<br>

Does anyone know what is responsible for this?<br>

I was thinking about trying out a modified Mytol recipe, but making it a lot stronger (to compete on the level of regular E6 first developers).</p>

 

<p>Well Xtol is an Acid developer.... Thanks for sharing this info.</p>

<p>It might be the Ascorbic Acid that's in XTol, as Larry suggests. I was just looking at the spec sheet on XTol at Kodak's site. You might view the ingredients to see what you find. I know they listed it, I just can't recall all the ingredients, other than the Ascrobic Acid stood out to me because I didn't recall it being part of the formulation.</p>

<p>Gentlepersons: </p>

<p>Does anybody know the filter number to neutialize the orange contrast mask? I presume it would be a different value for different films? </p>

<p>Tom Burke</p>

<p>XTOL contains ascorbic acid, but in its working solution (with all that sodium metaborate and sodium sulfite present) the pH is about 8. The ascorbic acid is present as the ascorbate ion under those conditions. </p>

<p>I'd be really surprised if the ascorbate is able to do anything to get rid of the base colour -- that colour is very hard (or impossible) to remove, as it's present in the film base itself (not just the emulsion)</p>

<p>Dan, can you post a side-by-side comparison (scans or photos of your positives) demonstrating the difference? (preferably with the edge markings showing?)</p>

<p>had to take a photo of the negative to show the film name on the edge in front of my ceiling light, overexposed part of the frame.. even light on it.. anyway here one is.. tungsten white balance</p>

<p><img src="http://i38.tinypic.com/16583k.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Here is some Pro 400H, developed in the same way but with Rodinal instead, which keeps the orange mask, also tungsten WB, for comparison, can clearly see the diff.<br>

<img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/29m9a1s.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Here is a dry scan<br>

<img src="http://i38.tinypic.com/29pu2h3.jpg" alt="" /><br>

And my attempt at a colour balance:<br>

<img src="http://i37.tinypic.com/o5ykwi.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>forgot to mention the reala sample is one of the earlier ones i did, think it was one of the mid 30 degree celsius ones, was a bit underdeveloped and i feel there is some residual orange mask still there, but its a huge difference.</p>