Push processing

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Push processing in photography, sometimes called uprating, refers to a film developing technique that increases the effective sensitivity of the film being processed.^[1] Push processing involves developing the film for more time, possibly in combination with a higher temperature, than the manufacturer's recommendations. This technique results in effective over-development of the film, compensating for under-exposure in the camera.

Push processing allows relatively insensitive films to be used under lighting conditions that would ordinarily be too low for adequate exposure at the required shutter speed and aperture combination. This technique alters the visual characteristics of the film, such as higher contrast, increased grain and lower resolution.^[1] Saturated and distorted colours are often visible on film that has been push processed.

Pull processing involves over-exposure and under-development, effectively decreasing the sensitivity of the processed film. It is achieved by developing the film for a shorter time, and possibly at a lower temperature. Film that has been pull processed will display the opposite change in visual characteristics. This may be deliberately exploited for artistic effect.

When a film's effective sensitivity has been varied, the resulting sensitivity is called the exposure index; the film's speed remains at the manufacturer's indication. For example, an ISO 200/24 film could be push processed to EI 400/27 or pull processed to EI 100/21.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Michael Langford (2000). Basic Photography (7th Edition.). Oxford: Focal Press. ISBN 0-240-51592-7. 

• Photography (fifth Edition) by Phil Davis, p373. ISBN = 0-697-00300-0

See also

• Photographic processing
• Film speed
• Latent image

External links

• Push processing and pull processing at Ilford Photo
• Push/Pull Processing at Kodak

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