The E-6 process (sometimes abbreviated to just E-6) is a process for developing color reversal (transparency) photographic film.

Unlike some other colour slide processes (such as Kodachrome K-14), E-6 process can be done manually by amateurs with the same equipement that is used for processing Black and White negative film or C-41 color film. However, the process is less temperature tolerant than black and white processes and the use of a bain-marie to stabilize the temperature is recommended.

By contrast, the K-14 Process and older Kodachrome processes are much more complex than E-6, and can performed only in specialized processing machines.

E-6 generally replaced the E-3 and E-4 processes in 1976. The older E-3 process used light for reversal, and produced transparencies that faded more quickly. The E-4 process used chemicals that are environmentally unfriendly and the highly toxic reversal agent TBAB.

There are two families of E-6 processing chemistries. The original and standard is a six chemical step process. The 'rapid' or 'hobby' type chemistries use three chemical steps. Rinses, washes, stop baths and stabilizer (the optional final step of the process) are not counted in the counting of steps described below.

Process Sequence for E-6 (six step)

1. Pre-Warm
2. First Developer
3. Rinse or Stop bath
4. Reversal
5. Color Developer
6. Conditioner (Pre-bleach)
7. Bleach
8. Fixer
9. Wash
10. Stabilizer (Final Rinse)

Process Sequence for E-6 (three step)

1. Pre-Warm
2. First Developer
3. Rinse or Stop bath 1
4. Color Developer
5. Rinse or Stop bath 2
6. Bleach-Fix
7. Wash
8. Stabilizer (Final Rinse)

Solutions for a three step process

First developer

• Sodium hexametaphosphate (Calgon) 2.0 g
• Sodium sulphite, anhydrous 39.0 g
• Potassium carbonate, anhydrous 14.0 g
• Sodium bicarbonate 12.0 g
• Phenidone 0.6 g
• Hydroquinone 6.0 g
• Sodium bromide 2.2 g
• Sodium thiocyanate 1.0 g
• Sodium hydroxide 3.3 g
• Potassium iodide, 0.1 per cent solution 4.5 ml
• Water to 1.0 litre

Stop bath 1

• Sodium acetate, anhydrous 30.0 g
• Acetic acid, glacial 6.0 ml
• Water to 1.0 litre

Colour developer

• Sodium hexametaphosphate (Calgon) 2.0 g
• Trisodium phosphate crystals 36.0 g
• Sodium hydroxide 3.0 g
• Sodium sulphite, anhydrous 4.5 g
• Sodium bromide 0.65 g
• Potassium iodide 0.1 per cent solution 30 ml
• Sodium thiocyanate 1.3 g
• Citrazinic acid 1.25 g
• CD3 11.0 g
• Water to 1.0 litre

Stop bath 2

As for Stop Bath 1, but do NOT interchange them after use

Bleach

• Potassium ferricyanide 80.0 g
• Potassium bromide 20.0 g
• Disodium phosphate, anhydrous 12.0 g
• Acetic acid, glacial 5.0 ml
• Water to 1.0 litre

Fixer

• Sodium thiosulfate, crystals 200.0 g
  • (or anhydrous 125.0 g)
• Sodium sulphite, anhydrous 5.0 g
• Sodium metabisulphite 0.5 g
• Water to 1.0 litre

Stabiliser (optional)

• Formaldehyde, 40 per cent 5.0 ml
• Wetting agent 1.0 ml
• Water to 1.0 litre

Photographic processes

E-6 | E-6 | Процесс E-6