Whats the difference between RA4 and C41?

Never having processed colour negs/prints,I think this is a bit of a
numptie question, but is there any difference between RA4 and C41?
Is it C41 for the film and RA4 for the print?

I'm asking because I've just bought some C41 for developing a few films
(I dont want prints, they are being scanned for the web), but I use RA4
chems every day at work, so would be able to get them free. (under a
brand name,so there are no recommended processing details).

Thanks
Alan.

 

Hi Alan,

C-41 is the chemistry for developing color film. All color film
currently produced can be (and should be unless you are experimenting)
developed with C-41 developer and bleach-fix (or bleach and fixer used
separately). RA-4 is the chemistry for developing color paper. There
are differences in the chemistry. RA-4 typically uses CD-3 (a Kodak
developer) as its main developing agent. C-41 uses CD-4 (also a Kodak
developer). The generic formulas have been published several times in
Photo Techniques USA [if I remember correctly Jan-Feb 2002 was one time
or was it Nov-Dec 2001?]. A variant of the formulas was published in
this newsgroup by Bill Laut, under the subject heading: "Homebrew RA-4
and C-41". I use Bill's formulations to compound my color chemistry and
an very happy with the results.


Francis A. Miniter

 

I know this post is really out dated, but can anyone tell me where I can get Bill's formulation for color chemistry. I am just really curious on how that would work out. thank you.

 

His formulas aren't on the forums here anymore, but here's a link where you can find his formulas on Claudio Bonavolta's website. http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/c41_ra4_chemicals.htm

Good luck! If anything, the Darkroom Cookbook is an excellent resource on mixing your own raw chemicals into photo chemicals. There's also the Film Developing Cookbook if I remember right.