Harman Phoenix C-41 Reversal Process (Rodinal)

      Phoenix 200 (35mm) has been processed as a slide using C-41 and Rodinal. This method, without any filtering, often results in a pronounced teal-blue hue in the shadows. Harman Phoenix 200 marks the company's first color-negative film in over fifty years. To create Phoenix, Harman adapted the technology from the Ilford XP2 Super emulsion, which is a black-and-white film that can be developed using C-41 chemicals. Unlike typical color-negative films, XP2 finishes development with a striking purple base, which does not appear in scans or prints if processed correctly.

      Harman Phoenix exhibits its own vibrant colors: mint-yellow when fresh and purple when processed as a color-negative. However, when developed as a slide film, the purple base can be converted to a fully transparent state. E-6 slides of Harman Phoenix typically show a strong blue-green tint, which can be adjusted to varying extents based on exposure and development technique. Using the most common developer chemicals available to film photographers allows for experiments with base color and exposure, resulting in scans with softer grain and clearer shadows.

      In this article, I'll detail how I developed and scanned Harman Phoenix as slide film using just a C-41 kit and a bottle of Rodinal. ⚠️ Note: The development times provided in this article are approximate and should be taken as a starting point. Be cautious of issues like reticulation and varying blue color casts. Harman has recently reformulated its chemistry, which may not perform as well as the original Phoenix. I will update this article with new samples and development times as I continue to experiment.

      In this guide: The rationale for developing Phoenix 200 as slides. An experimental approach. Reversal development using C-41. Snip tests and test strips. Test results for Phoenix 200 in C-41 reversal with Rodinal. Scanning and color correction for Phoenix 200 slides. Suggested techniques, development times, and temperatures. Challenges to address. Support this blog & access premium features through GOLD memberships!¹ — The precise historical details are not readily available, but this page suggests that after the 1960s, any color film products from Ilford would have been produced by third parties.

      Phoenix 200 (35mm), developed as a slide using C-41 and Rodinal (Result B). Film base fog corrected with film Q, slight adjustments in Photoshop applied.

      Why choose to develop Phoenix 200 as slides?

      Despite the challenges mentioned earlier (which are discussed in detail below), developing Phoenix 200 as slide film offers numerous advantages over the standard color-negative method:

      - Silky smooth grain. The original Phoenix 200 produces sharp, prominent grain when processed as a color-negative. The newer variant, Phoenix II, has finer grain, yet it still cannot rival the nearly imperceptible grain quality of Phoenix 200 when processed as a slide. The reversal process eliminates opaque silver crystals, leaving only the dye clouds, which do not have the harsh sharpness.

      - Halation. No other slide film achieves the halation effect like Harman Phoenix. When processed as a slide, the results often show an orange hue instead of the expected red seen in Kodak Vision 3 and CineStill films.

      - Cost-effectiveness. Harman Phoenix is less expensive than most slide films available today, with only some expired options being cheaper. It is widely available, typically found in places that sell Ilford film (I purchased mine at a local pharmacy chain, making it convenient for this project). Utilizing color-negative film chemicals along with a common black-and-white developer simplifies the reversal process, saving costs on expensive E-6 chemicals or lab development.

      Finally, it is satisfying to remove ready-to-view positives from the development tank, which I find more enjoyable than negatives. The process of fogging black-and-white negatives is also quite engaging (you get to see images during the development).

      An experimental approach.

      C-41 reversal processing, a technique for developing slide film, is known to result in slight color shifts when used with actual slide film. Documentation regarding C-41 reversal recipes with Rodinal is sparse, featuring conflicting development times and dilutions. I experimented with seven variations of the recipe at differing times and temperatures; only about a third were successful (I'll present those first).

      Harman Phoenix has a relatively clear base compared to the usual orange mask found in color-negative films, allowing for visible positive images. However, whether developed using the method described here or the standard E-6 process, the film often displays a strong blue or green tint that might or might not be easily correctable.

      If the development times, temperatures, or agitation levels are off, the film may emerge too dark or too bright, leading to images that cannot be properly scanned. However, as you may have observed, it is feasible to create a unique aesthetic with very soft, almost imperceptible grain and interesting physical artifacts.

      Shooting Phoenix 200

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