Latensification, intensification, amplification

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About Latensification, intensification, amplification

This group is about the various chemical processes of latensification, intensification and amplification (sometimes apparently incorrectly called forcing) applied to films (all kinds, black and white, C-41, E-6, other, but not photographic paper). The main process we are using involves a first development, then a photographic bleach with bromide to return siver to silver bromide, and then subsequent redevelopment stages.

Latensification methods are usually used to increase the effective speed of films or reduce the effect of reciprocity failure, and can increase the effective speed by 3 to 5 stops. But they can be used for many other creative reasons. (Such as changing the intensity of colours, solarisation [aka solarization], and adding or changing colour casts.) They provide an easy and exciting way of processing and cross-processing colour films at home at 20C in which most of the stages are carried out in full daylight and are controlled by inspection. (The Speedibrews SPEEDI-41 is a complete C-41 kit for processing films this way.)

Latensification in general refers to the (chemical or physical) application of a level of fog to the film, usually below the film's threshold, to improve the rendition of low-light images. Intensification is a B+W process using photographic bleach to achieve the same purpose. As I understand it, amplification is a term coined for the similar process for colour films.

This group is for all people who like to experiment with such processes to share their ideas and recipes and show off the results of their work. All images submitted to the pool MUST be tagged with at least one of the tags latensification, intensification, amplification, and must contain (in the description or comments) details of the processing method used, in particular to explain how the processing fits one of these three methods. Please also indicate which film you used and at what ISO it was shot. Images submitted that do not meet these criteria will be removed without explanation.