| 1. Taking the Picture |
The camera's shutter opens, exposing the film to light coming through the lens. This creates an invisible latent image on the light-sensitive negative layer . |
Camera shutter, lens, film negative |
Captures the image, just like in a traditional camera . |
| 2. Ejecting the Film |
The motorized rollers grip the film and push it out of the camera. As the film passes through, the rollers squeeze a small pod (a "chemical pod") attached to the film . |
Motorized rollers, film with chemical pod |
The pressure from the rollers bursts the pod, spreading its contents evenly across the film . |
| 3. Spreading the Reagent |
A highly alkaline reagent paste is spread between the negative (where the image was captured) and the positive receiving sheet. This paste contains opacifying dyes, white pigment, and developing chemicals . |
Reagent paste, negative, positive sheet |
The opacifying dyes protect the developing photo from light, while the alkaline chemicals begin the development process . |
| 4. Chemical Development |
The reagent activates the developer in the emulsion layers. In color film, dyes (cyan, magenta, yellow) migrate from the negative to the positive sheet. The amount of dye that migrates is controlled by the amount of light that originally hit that part of the film . |
Multiple emulsion and dye layers |
This creates the full-color image on the positive sheet . |
| 5. The Image Appears |
The image gradually becomes visible as the chemicals work. After a few minutes, the opacifying dyes clear, and the photo is fully developed, stable, and ready to be viewed . |
The entire film "sandwich" |
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