Processing Holography Film

Chemicals needed are the developer solution, bleach, and Photoflo.
  1. Develop in the working solution (developer) for two minutes.
  2. Wash in running water for three minutes.
  3. Bleach until the hologram is transparent, less than two minutes.
  4. Wash in running water for three minutes.
  5. Soak in Photoflo solution as recommended for three minutes
  6. Hang up vertically to dry, using clean and dry hangers.


  7. If you are making reflection holograms, they cannot be viewed until the hologram is dry.

    Sample layout for developing

    Further comments on developing

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Developer Solution

Just before developing, mix equal parts of Solution A and Solution B in a developing tray. The working solution has a life of approximately 8 hours. Mix only enough to develop the holograms, and dispose afterward.

The stock solutions are mixed from the chemicals obtained from Photographer's Formulary.



Solution A (Cat#04-3010)
Water at 100°F 750 ml
Catechol 20 gm
Ascorbic acid 10 gm
Sodium sulfite 10 gm
Urea 75 gm
Water at 68°F add to make 1 liter Solutions A and B have considerable shelf life, unmixed.
Solution B
Water at 68°F 800 ml
Sodium carbonate (anhydrous) 60gm
Water at 68°F added to make 1 liter.
Note: The use of distilled water is recommended.
Catechol
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Bleach

Bleach solution mixture:
Water at 68°F 750 ml
Potassium dichromate 5 gms
Sodium bisulfate 80 gm
Water at 68°F add to make 1 liter

Mix the potassium dichromate thoroughly in the water. Add the sodium bisulfate and mix well.

The bleach is good for a long time and can be reused until potency is lost.

Potassium dichromate Sodium bisulfate
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Photoflo

Kodak Photoflo is a commercial wetting agent which is used as the last step before film drying. It helps to prevent water spots from the formation of water droplets on the film. Some persons prefer to use a photographic squeegee to wipe off most of the water so that large droplets will not form after the film is hung to dry.
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Developing Considerations

Clay Turner has had a lot of experience with film and developing for holograms. He provides the following information.

Film recommended: Agfa 8E75NAH-HD (8 is the type of emulsion, 75 specifies 750nm as peak of sensitivity, NAH specifies no backing, I think, and HD is for high definition) 100 sheets of 4x5 for about $120. From Photocopy Warehouse, Armour Drive, Norcross, 404-875-9956

For developing he recommended a pyrochrome process obtainable from Photographers Formulary, Condon, Montana 406-754-2891. It involves A and B parts which are kept separately and mixed just before use. Actual source is Integraf, 745 N. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045. Phone 1-312-234-3756 Metrologic book gives Ph 708-234-3756, Fax 708-615-0835

Clay uses a green safety gel in the darkroom which he got from Atlanta Costume on Monroe Drive. He checked the sensitivity curve of the Agfa film and picked a green gel which blocked that range. He said that large sheets of it could be bought from Atlanta Costume, which provides gels for theatrical lighting.

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