Cross processing (sometimes abbreviated to Xpro) is the deliberate processing of
photographic
Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employed ...
film in a chemical solution intended for a different type of film. The effect was discovered independently by many different photographers often by mistake in the days of
C-22 and
E-4. Color cross processed photographs are often characterized by unnatural colors and high contrast. The results of cross processing differ from case to case, as the results are determined by many factors such as the make and type of the film used, the amount of light exposed onto the film and the chemical used to develop the film. Similar effects can also be achieved with digital filter effects.
Processes
Cross processing usually involves one of the two following methods.
* Processing positive color
reversal film
In photography, reversal film or slide film is a type of photographic film that produces a positive image on a transparent base. Instead of negatives and prints, reversal film is processed to produce transparencies or diapositives (abbreviat ...
in
C-41 chemicals, resulting in a negative image on a colorless base.
* Processing negative
color print film
Color prints have been developed since their beginnings in 1935 with Eastman Kodak’s Company’s Kodachrome film, as well in 1936 with Agfa Company’s Agfacolor film. Color print film is the most common type of photographic film in consumer use. ...
in
E-6 chemicals, resulting in a positive image but with the orange base of a normally processed color
negative.
However, cross processing can take other forms, such as negative color print film or positive color reversal film in
black and white
Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey.
Media
The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...
developer.
Other interesting effects can be obtained by bleaching color films processed in black and white chemistry using a
hydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride. It is a colorless solution with a distinctive pungent smell. It is classified as a strong acid. It is a component of the gastric acid in the dige ...
dichromate mixture or using potassium
triiodide
In chemistry, triiodide usually refers to the triiodide ion, . This anion, one of the polyhalogen ions, is composed of three iodine atoms. It is formed by combining aqueous solutions of iodide salts and iodine. Some salts of the anion have bee ...
(KI
3) solution. If these bleached films are then re-exposed to light and re-processed in their intended color chemistry, subtle, relatively low contrast,
pastel
A pastel () is an art medium in a variety of forms including a stick, a square a pebble or a pan of color; though other forms are possible; they consist of powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are similar to those use ...
effects are obtained.
Cross processing effects can be simulated in digital photography by a number of techniques involving the manipulation of contrast/brightness, hue/saturation and curves in image editors such as
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editor developed and published by Adobe Inc. for Windows and macOS. It was originally created in 1988 by Thomas and John Knoll. Since then, the software has become the industry standard not only in rast ...
or
GIMP
GIMP ( ; GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image manipulation (retouching) and image editing, free-form drawing, transcoding between different image file formats, and more specialized ...
. However, these digital tools lack the unpredictable nature of regular cross processed images.
Gallery
File:Supermodels.jpg, Agfa CT Precisa 100 film, shot at EI 80 then cross processed with C-41 chemistry
File:Seats and tables at Wikimedia Foundation office, cross processed.JPG, 200 ISO Lomography Slide/Xpro film, processed with C-41 chemistry
File:Young man in bar, cross processed.JPG, 200 ISO Lomography Slide/Xpro film, processed with C-41 chemistry
File:Ice Cream Dreams, by Chris Marchant.jpg, Kodak Color Plus negative film shot with a Holga
The Holga is a medium format 120 film camera, made in Hong Kong, known for its low-fidelity aesthetic.
The Holga's low-cost construction and simple meniscus lens often yields pictures that display vignetting, blur, light leaks and other dis ...
, processed with E-6 chemistry
File:Central Camera Company.jpg, Fuji Sensia slide film cross processed with C-41 chemistry
See also
*
Redscale
Redscale is a technique of shooting photographic film where the film is exposed from the wrong side, i.e. the emulsion is exposed through the base of the film. Normally, this is done by winding the film upside-down into an empty film canister. T ...
*
Photographic processes
References
Photographic film processes
{{filmmaking-stub