The E-4 process is a now outdated process for developing color reversal (transparency) photographic film, which was introduced in 1966.

Drawbacks

The process is infamous for two reasons: First, it uses the highly toxic boron hydride-based reversal agent tertiary butyl-amine borane (TBAB). Early releases of the consumer-sized version of the chemistry provided the TBAB in the form of a tablet, possibly to avoid the possibility of inhalation. This was later changed to loose powder, likely as a countermeasure against inadvertent ingestion of the substance. Second, the prehardener agent contains formaldehyde and 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran, which when mixed generates succinaldehyde, a noxious gas which has been likened to tear gas. Process E-6 films are hardened during manufacture, eliminating the prehardener step altogether and allowing them to be processed at 100 F.

Steps

Ektachrome film has three separate light-sensitive layers; each layer is sensitive to a different group of wavelengths corresponding to red, green, and blue colors. When the film is exposed, each layer records a latent image based on its sensitivity. A yellow filter prevents blue light from exposing the green- and red-sensitive layers, which have some sensitivity to blue light. The E-4 process is faster than E-3; whereas E-3 required 15 steps and up to 70 minutes from start to finish, E-4 was completed in approximately 50 minutes over 13 steps. E-4 runs at 85 F, about 10 °F (6 °C) higher than E-3. The temperature tolerance is ±1 °F for prehardener, ±1/undefined°F for the first developer, and ±2–5 °F for all other steps. The ME-4 process was a motion picture variation of the E-4 process. The major change for E-4 was the inclusion of a chemical reversal agent, which permits processing of the film without the manual re-exposure/fogging step required by the predecessor E-1 / E-2 / E-3 processes. Total darkness is required during the first four development steps; normal room light can be used for the remaining steps.

History

E-4 processed film is color stable for about 30 years. The process largely was phased out in 1976 with the introduction of the E-6 process, which is more environmentally friendly due to its lack of toxic chemicals. E-6 avoids the use of TBAB by adding a separate reversal bath containing the tin salt stannous chloride. The E-4 process has been discontinued since 1996; after 1976 it was used solely for Kodak IE color infrared film, due to a legal commitment by Kodak to provide process support for 30 years after introduction. Kodak discontinued E-4 processing in 1985, but independent photofinishers continued to support the process. The E-4 chemicals were reverse-engineered and substitute formulae were published in the British Journal of Photography Annual in 1977.

Processing of older Ektachrome films (including Process E-4)