This post on ORWO UT-18 color reversal film was the first one on this blog. And the first “readable” image I proudly produced and shared here was this:
UT, as I mentioned before, stands for Umkehr Tageslicht — reversible daylight. Besides DIN 18 (ISO 50), UT had its great time as DIN 15, 16, 20, 21 and 23 (my experience with UT-21 is here). Produced from the ’60s in various sizes and formats, this film made it through the early ’90s. It also has an UK version, balanced for tungsten light.
Expiration dates of my stash vary from 1985 to 1992.
For the last 3 or so years I developed more than 60 rolls of this film in its original process, ORWO C-9165. About 20 others went to various cross processes like AGFA Process 41 and ORWO C-5168. I never developed this film in C-41 or E-6.
For this time I understood better C-9165 and have described most common mistakes and gaffes in a post here. Also, I used C-9165 to experiment in cross processing color negatives to get positive images.
But let me talk now about ORWO UT-18. And by talking I mean bragging about some good results I got during this time.
The photograph above depicts St. Ilia monastery in Ellen’s basilica. Built around IV century BC, its ruins still stand proud within a stone wall. This roll, in particular, was developed with 0.2 gr. of benzotriazole added to the first developer in an attempt to decrease the fog as much as possible. Normally, I wouldn’t overexpose this type of films too much — the picture above was taken at light meter reading for ISO 25. The rule of thumb “one decade after expiration equals one stop of overexposure” I found not applicable to ORWO UT-18 (and the like). I have explained this here.
If the film is nearly properly kept during the years, there is no need to overexpose heavily. If storage conditions have not been good — you can’t save the film. So overexposure doesn’t help in either case. You will probably get faint colors, low contrast and a lot of fog. Sometimes these defects will add nostalgic feeling, and if desired (I mean, if you know your film and expect the result) you may use it in a creative way.
Here are some of the best examples I got with ORWO UT-18. These two photos below are taken with Pentacon Six and a heavy, bulky Meyer-Optik Görlitz Orestegor 300 mm F/4 lens. The distance to the herds was about 800 m., but this great lens did its job:
In these days I was shooting with Pentacon Six a lot, with Carl Zeiss 80/2.8 or Flektogon 50/4.
Here is a picture from ancient city of Abritus.
Color rendition of ORWO UT-18 could be vivid…
… or sometimes unsaturated, as the examples below. That would, in most cases, depend on how this film has been travelling these 30+ years before our meeting, but also due to exhausted color developer. Yellow/green fog clearly means bad storing conditions.
ORWO Chrom Process C-9165 is long and complicated at first glance, but I can assure you there is nothing difficult with it. If you manage to mix proper baths (I collect all chemicals fresh from stores and mix them myself) and maintain good control over temperatures of the first and second developer — you will most probably get good images.
The total cost of all chemicals to prepare a litter of all baths is about EUR 50 – 60. The problem is that some of the ingredients are only sold in large quantities that you probably would not utilize. Another thing is that some of them are not easy to find, like hydroquinone or CD1.
A hint for few tens of euros: don’t you ever go for old time sets of baths, especially the ones in liquid condition — I have used several of them, found on internet only to get additional source of disappointment and wasted my time and rolls. Liquids get bad easily and are not usable for good results.
Below photographs were taken at ISO 25 and 50 with rolls well kept. How the rolls have been kept, unfortunately, I found only after the development.
ORWO C-9165 is using a re-exposure step to reverse the image to get a slide. This is a pre-E-6 process, I think most closer to it would be process E-2 by Kodak from the ’50s. First, you develop the film with a b&w developer to produce fogged, latent image. Next is re-exposure, where one shall use strong light (I use 500 W lamp at about 80 cm. from the film) for a few minutes for each side of the film. Then comes color developer, bleach and fix.
Next images have been taken at ISO 50. This is what Black sea south coast looked like in spring of 2017.
Cross processing of this film may be done for experiments, but bear in mind that this emulsion is constructed for temperatures up to 25° C — if you put it in standard E-6 process it will simply melt.
As a conclusion:
- if rolls are well kept and you are using good set of C-9165 you will very likely get vivid, saturated colors;
- do not overexpose this film more than 1 stop for good results. If you try to “pull” it, decrease the time of the first developer to avoid heavy fog;
- ORWO C-9165 is not an impossible process, if you collect and mix all chemicals and have time to learn it;
- this is obviously not a good choice of film for everyday shooting, but if you know its character it may be used for specific projects.
Here is a short video shot on ORWO UK-17 2x8mm film.
52 Comments
Amazing results considering the age of the film. Would you be willing to develop some rolls of OrwoChrom for me?
Thank you, J! Will have a look at my chemicals and will reply to you via e-mail. How many rolls do you have for development and how urgently you need them?
Vesselin
Hi Vesselin,
Thanks so much for replying! I have 3 rolls: 2 X UT18 and 1 X UT21. I have been considering cross processing these rolls in E6 chemicals but it seems like such a waste. I’m in no rush to develop them so I can definitely work around your schedule, should you have a sufficient supply of chemicals.
J
I also have 3 films orwochrome ut18. How much would this be?
Thank you,
Malina
malinutu_83@yahoo.com
Comment
Gorgeous post .
Thank you, brilliant work. I received some exposed ‘found’ Orwo UT18 and had it developed in C41. It was done by a lab and the process was too hot, I’m sure, so the film stuck to itself in places. I only got a few proper images, but for 30 year old film stored in a wardrobe over 30 humid South-China summers I can’t complain.
Hi Vesselin!
Do you still have chemicals to process UT-18? I have a roll that I’d like to process but don’t know how to go about making my own in a small enough quantity.
Hi Vesselin!
Do you still have chemicals to process UT-18? I have a roll that I’d like to process but don’t know how to go about making my own in a small enough quantity.
Hello, Vesselin! After a lot of research on the internet, I can honestly say you are the best source of information about Orwo UT-18 and UT-21 color positives! A collegue of mine recently uncovored a batch UT-21s in 35mm format so I got the task to find out how to process it. I would very much like to talk to you if you have the time! Also we live in the same country so I would really appreciate it if you have the time to meet! Thank you!
Hello Boris–
Thank you for your kind words! I will send you an e-mail with contact details.
Best regards,
Vesselin
Hi, I resently got my hands on the above mentioned films. Mainly UT18 and UK17 (120). I have no clue about the storage conditions, but I would like to try and see if there will be any results. I have never developed film myself so I was thinking if you can do one for me to see if the films are good and then I can try to do it on my own.
Best regards!!
Hi, just sent you an e-mail.
Hi Vesselin,
I found you while serching on internet about Orwo Chrom ut18, and it seems that you are an expert 🙂 I found 5 rolls of this film, and there are pictures taken by my grandparents on their trip to Soviet Union in ’80, I guess. I am afraid to experiment, and I do not want to loose pictures – if they are still there, obviously (film was stored in dry, dark place, but not in the fridge). Especially that I have no experience with developing any kind of film… Is it possible to talk to you about it via email? It would be great, cheers. Magda
Hello Magda–
I am no expert, just an advanced hobbyist. I will revert to you via e-mail next few days.
Best regards,
Vesselin
Hi Vesselin,
I found one Orwo Chrom UT18 exposed but not developed (around 1992). I would like to develop it. Is it possible to talk to you about it via email?
Thanking you in advance
Mauro
Just sent you an e-mail.
BR
Vesselin
Hi Vesselin,
I have one Orwo Chrom UT18 where the pictures were taken in 1980 by a Russian who asked me to develop it when I returned to the US. Somehow I never did develop it but have kept it in its case all these years and would love to have it developed if there is anything still there! Could we try to arrange this?
Many thanks in advance!!
Hello Duffrey–
Thank you for your comment! I would love to help you with your ORWO UT-18 film, but unfortunately I do not have the chemicals to mix all the baths at the moment. And for just one roll the price for all the ingredients would be quite high (currently I have no other ORWO reversible rolls to develop).
If I can help you with anything further — please let me know.
Best regards,
Vesselin
Thanks, Vesselin. Please do let me know if you have the ingredients in the future since you are the expert and I am afraid to trust any unknown developer! Or, do you know any other person or company who can develop such a complicated film?
Best,
Duffey
Hi
I have three UT18 ORWO to develop. If you are planning to acquire this mix of chems, please let me know.
I have several packs of C9165 prepared and I’m shooting some films at the moment.
Vesselin if you are willing to give my contact details to the people interested I will maybe be able to help them out.
Regards,
Alex
Hello Alex–
I will send them e-mails, so you may talk directly.
Best regards,
Vesselin
Hello : )
I’m looking to get good things for (of course, old) UT20 & UT21 that needs to be processed.
If by any chance you have (or not) availability to do this work, please let me know : )
My best,
Alban
Hi Vesselin,
Where do you source your chemicals from? I’m curious to at least once try Orwochrome development with the 9165 process, but it seems some of the more complicated chemistry isn’t exactly available at average hobbyist lab shops.
I figure if you know EU stores that ship within the Union, that might be an option for me. Hope to hear from you!
Kind regards,
Daniel
Hello Daniel–
I am in Bulgaria and find most of the ingredients in chems stores here. I am not sure if they ship internationally.
I will send you via e-mail the contact of Alex, who may help you. He lives in Germany.
Best regards,
Vesselin
Hey!
Alex developed two my 20-30 years old ORWOs. Totally recommend him (if he still will enjoy this hobby)!
Hi Vesselin,
I’ve got one ORWO Chrom UT18 film roll. I’m not familiar with developing at all, but for my eye it kind of seems undeveloped.
Can You give my email also to Alex? Maybe he can help me further.
Thanks, best wishes!
Rando
Hello Rando–
Just sent him an e-mail.
Best regards,
Vesselin
Hello Vesselin,
Great job with these shots and the whole blog, much appreciated!!
Any chance on sending an email to Alex if he’s still in business? I suppose I won’t be able to get all the chemicals and living in Poland – Germany would be my best bet!
Thanks in advance,
Best,
Kuba
Hej Kuba–
I’ll talk to him and will let you know.
BR,
Vesselin
Many thanks good sir!
Just sent you an e-mail.
Здравейте. Имам няколко средноформатни Орво хром ленти, имате ли все още химията за проявяването им?
Здравейте Иван–
За съжаление нямам в момента химикали за тези ленти.
Поздрави,
В
Hi, Mr. I`m a brazilian living in Japan and next month I`m planning to visit Okinawa and looking for films on ebay found a lot of ORWO CHROM for a good price. I was also very happy to see the results you got. They are so beautiful, actually they made my mind and I`m gonna buy them. I already developed balck and white films using rodinol, cafennol, and D76. I understood that you are selling the chemicals for the developement _ Really thank yo. Marcos
Hello Marcos–
Thank you for the kind words! Unfortunately, I do not have all of the chemicals to mix the baths. I have seen an IG account mixing and selling these, you may search for ORWO there.
Best regards,
Vesselin
Hello Vesselin !
I have read through your post and must admit you have put a lot of effort in it, very nice ! I got some ORWO Chrom UT18 in Berlin and shot it there, and the pictures I took have a strong sentimental value. I was wondering if you could develop them ? Thank you very much !!
Hi Theo,
I am planning on mixing a set of chemicals within the next week – prepared for some rolls which I am probably not going to use all myself.
If you are quick, and it is not too much films, I can probably help you out.
I’m also located in Germany, Vesselin can give you my contact – I am the guy who developed film for Janis.
You also find me on Instagram as alex_analogue and can contact me there.
Alex did good job. Thanks again!
Hi Vesselin,
I have about ten Orwochrom UT 18 films developed in the eighties. However, the single dias mixed up. I would like to sort them based on the numbers provided on the perforation edge of the film like: 3309577 or 382215. Do you know if these are actually the serial film numbers?
Hello Jerzy–
I think yes, these are the serial numbers, but perhaps not for each film, but for the batch. What format your film is, 135 or 120? If 135, you should have max 37 frames with the same number, if the number is for the film, not the batch.
Best regards,
Vesselin
Hi Vesselin,
Thank you for the quick response.
The films are 135. However, the numbers are not on every frame, maybe twice or three times per film. I will investigate with further films/frames.
Hi Jerzy and Vesselin,
I recently shot a roll of UT-18 and had a look on the film and also on the packaging. It is in fact true what Vesselin says, the batch no. which is printed on the film is also on the packaging.
Unfortunately I don’t know how large the batches where back in the days.
BR,
Alex
Hej Alex and Jerzy–
I doubt Jerzy still have access to the packaging, but for all of my films I do and will have a look at these next days. As I have plenty of them, that shall be representative.
BR,
Veselin
Hi Vesselin and Alex,
Thank you ver much for your help.
No, I have no access to the packaging.
I have checked 183 frames (equivalent of five films) so far and found four different serial or batch numbers. Actually, sometimes I see a whole number on a single frame and sometimes only a part of it.
Question: How many times per film this number is provided?
I guess twice or three times maximum.
Best Regards,
Jerzy
I have two rolls of ORWO UT-18 from the late 1980s (I think 1988/9) can you develop them for me please?
I have three (3) rolls of ORWO UT-18 from the late 1980s (I think 1988/9) can you develop them for me please?
Dear Konstantine–
Unfortunately, I do not have the chemicals to develop these films. Sorry about that!
Best regards,
Vesselin
Dear Mr. Vesselin,
May I ask you or Mr. Alex to help me to develop my ORWO UT films, please contact me via email.
Dear Mr. Vesselin,
Hello sir, sorry to bother you. May I ask if you are Mr. Alex who left a message on Mr. Vesselin’s blog website saying he can help others develop the orwo ut film. Please contact me via email, thanks in advance.
Yours, Thomas
Hello Thomas,
sorry, I no longer offer this service, as I only have very little chemicals left and need them to develop my own Orwo UT films.
Sorry for that!
Regards,
Alex
Thank you for your reply, Mr. Alex. best wishes.