Three ready C-5168 solutions — developer, bleach and fixer — for Svema DS and LN film. A separate stop bath is no longer needed: tap water takes its place. Diluted and ready: all that remains is the temperature and the times in the instructions.
Why a separate process
These emulsions were made with Agfa–Wolfen technology and designed for a different colour developer than C-41, which leaves them with a shifted colour balance and crossed curves. C-5168 is the process they were designed for, and the difference shows at once on a scan.
Ready solutions or concentrates
Same chemistry; the difference is the form and the cost per roll. Ready solutions are simpler to start with, concentrates cheaper if you process regularly.
Questions and answers
Will this kit do for modern colour film?
No. Ordinary colour negative needs C-41 — they are different processes.
How long do the solutions last?
Bleach and fixer keep for up to a year. The developer is best used within the first 2–3 months: it oxidises fastest, so keep it in a tightly closed container with no air space.
Processing instructions
The same instructions apply to the working solutions and to the concentrates. Printable version (PDF): English · українська · русский.
For Svema DS, LN, TsND, TsNL and ORWO NC film.
Kit contents
- Developer (working solution or concentrate) — red cap.
- Bleach (working solution or concentrate) — yellow cap.
- Fixer (working solution or concentrate) — green cap.
Use ordinary tap water for the water stop bath.
Kit capacity
| Kit volume | Number of 135-36 or 120 rolls |
|---|---|
| 0.5 L | 4–5 rolls |
| 1.0 L | 8–10 rolls |
| 2.0 L | 16–20 rolls |
| 5.0 L | 40–50 rolls |
Shelf life and storage
Developer working solution, including partially used solution: 2–3 months. Other solutions: 12 months.
Store in tightly closed containers at 5–25 °C. Keep the developer in a full container with no air space above the solution. Sediment may form in used solutions; this is normal.
Development time adjustment
I recommend pre-soaking the film, but it is optional. As the developer is reused, increase the development time for each roll already processed:
| Kit volume | Add per previously processed roll |
|---|---|
| 0.5 L | 15 seconds |
| 1.0 L | 8 seconds |
| 2.0 L | 4 seconds |
Recommendations for aged film
Most films that this kit is designed to process are many years old. I recommend a single addition of 10–20 mL of a 1% benzotriazole solution per litre of developer. If you plan to add benzotriazole to the developer, use a lower ISO setting on the camera or light meter when shooting to increase the exposure. For the batches listed below, use the amounts shown in the table. A value of 0 means that no benzotriazole should be added.
| Film / year | 1% solution, ml per litre |
|---|---|
| Svema DS-5m (1991) | 0 |
| Svema DS-5m (1993) | 10 |
| Svema LN-9 (1989) | 10 |
| Svema Retro (1991) | 10 |
Processing sequence
| No. | Step | Time | Temp. | Agitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Develop | 09:00 | 20 °C | Every 60 seconds |
| 2 | Water stop bath (tap water) | 05:00 | 20 °C | Every 60 seconds |
| 3 | Water wash, 3–4 changes | 02:00 | 16–22 °C | — |
| 4 | Bleach | 06:00 | 16–22 °C | Every 30 seconds |
| 5 | Water wash, 3–4 changes | 01:00 | 16–22 °C | — |
| 6 | Fix | 05:00 | 16–22 °C | Every 60 seconds |
| 7 | Water wash, 3–4 changes | 15:00 | 16–22 °C | — |
| 8 | Final rinse in distilled water or Photo-Flo solution | — | — | — |
| 9 | Dry | — | 20–30 °C | — |
Times are shown as min:sec. Follow the development time precisely, including the adjustment for reuse. For all other steps, the stated times are minimums.
During every wash, change the water at equal intervals, following the stated duration and number of changes. Bleach only after washing the film thoroughly.
Bleach bypass effect
After step 2, proceed directly to step 6. To remove the metallic silver from the negative later, repeat the process starting at step 4.
Precautions
Avoid contact with eyes. If any solution gets on your skin, rinse it off immediately with water.
Ingredients
Distilled water; 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP); acetic acid; citric acid; sodium tripolyphosphate; dipotassium hydrogen phosphate; potassium hydroxide; potassium sulfite; potassium carbonate; potassium bromide; potassium hexacyanoferrate(III); benzotriazole; hydroxylamine hydrochloride; N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulfate (CD-1); ammonium thiosulfate.
