Eastman-kodak Company

Henry H Adam

Anthony Earle

Leslie R Wells

Gareth B Evans

The invention relates to photographic processing and provides a photographic processing system, comprising one or more processing tanks for processing photographic material. The system also has at least one buffer tank for receiving concentrated replenisher solution from a replenisher solution cartridge. The at least one buffer tank has an outlet in communication with the photographic processing system for direct supply of concentrated replenisher solution to the one or more processing tanks.

Photographic processing

The present invention relates to a camera including a writer adapted to couple information to a film in use in the camera, the information relating to an ISO rating setting for a particular image captured by the camera. The invention also relates to photographic processing system, comprising reading means to identify from magnetic information stored on a film to be processed the ISO rating setting at which images on the film were captured and a developer stage to receive the film to be developed. The photographic processing system also includes a control unit to select a development time for the film in dependence on the identified ISO rating setting. The invention enables optimisation of image quality to be achieved.

Method and system for processing a photographic film

A method of identifying whether a particular brand of photochemicals has been used in the processing of photographic prints by providing information relating to the process chemistry on the back of the prints.

Photo-finishing

Apparatus for processing photographic material comprises a succession of processing regions formed by inclined planes extending between sets of rollers. As the material is driven up the planes with its emulsion side down, wash solution flows down beneath it. The length of each plane can be different so that the material is washed for different times in each region, achieving chemical equilibrium in the final region before passing on to the drying stage.

Processing photographic material

Method and apparatus are disclosed for washing exposed photographic material in less time and with a reduced replenishment rate compared with conventional processing. Multi-stage counter-current washing is employed, in which the time that the material spends in each stage is such that equilibrium of chemical concentration between solution contained in the material and solution contained in the stages (a) is reached in the final stage, but (b) is reached in fewer than all the stages, and wherein the material resides in at least one stage for a time that is different from that in at least one other of the stages. Preferably the longest time is spent in the final stage. The time distribution throughout the stages can be optimized to produce a final tank concentration comparable to that obtained with conventional processing.

Apparatus for processing photographic material has a plurality of stages for carrying out different processing steps. At least one stage has a series of processing regions each defined by an inclined surface that extends between sets of rollers. The surfaces may be of different length to provide different residence times for the material. Processing solution flows down the surfaces whilst the photographic material is driven upwards in counter-current mode. All the stages may be uni-directionally inclined end-to-end, or they may be arranged in a U-shape so as to minimize cross-contamination between the stages.

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Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom

Henry H Adam