So what was Kodachrome
Kodachrome film was a positive film and was indeed an iconic film stock that had a distinct look often emulated today for its charm and nostalgic visual warmth.
Kodachrome was a complex film to manufacture and process, with spiralling costs Kodak decided to cease production in 2009. It had been in production since 1935 with many improvements to the film speed and quality.
Kodachrome film was a type of colour reversal film, which means that it produces a positive image rather than a negative image when it is developed. It was most popular in 35mm stills photography, 16mm movie film and as Super 8. There was a version with a magnetic sound stripe also produced.
The film consists of three layers of emulsion, each sensitive to a different colour of light: red, green, and blue.
To create Kodachrome film, the emulsion layers are coated onto a base material, such as cellulose triacetate or polyester. The base material is transparent, allowing light to pass through the film and expose the emulsion layers.
The Subtractive Colour method.
Once the film had been exposed to light, it must be developed using a special process called dye coupler technology. This process involved adding chemicals to the film that react with the silver halide crystals in the emulsion layers to produce dyes.
The first step in developing Kodachrome film is to soak the film in a series of chemical baths that remove the unexposed silver halide crystals and fix the image in place. The film is then soaked in a series of colour developer baths, each of which develops one of the three emulsion layers.
After the colour developer baths, the film is soaked in a bleach bath, which removes the remaining silver halide crystals and leaves behind only the dyes. Finally, the film is washed and dried, and the dyes create the final image.
Is it any good now!
Fortunately due to the process used the film preserves very well, provided it has been kept dry it will still yield great images. Even some of the oldest film can be be transferred on the latest scanning equipment.
Kodachrome film was discontinued in 2009, so it is no longer being made or processed. However if you discover unprocessed film it is only possible currently to process the film into a black and white negative as Kodak and their partners ceased this films development some years ago.
Many people have this film tucked away in cupboards and attics ready to be seen again, it only need to be digitised into a modern format using a company such as ours giving you easily accessible images and movies to watch agin many of which contain a great family history.
