a while back i posted (elsewhere) about wanting to try developing black and white film as reversal using a K14-style chromogenic process, since then i could use normal C-41 bleach instead of (far nastier) B&W reversal bleach, but i wasn't sure if or where i could find a black color coupler. well today i was kinda thinking about that again and it turns out that a) i don't need a black color coupler, i could just mix cyan, magenta, and yellow couplers and it should all work out and b) they make a product called "rockland polytoner" that lets you do just that - it's a set of developer and color couplers that's designed to let you tone B&W prints arbitrary colors by mixing the couplers together. people have been experimenting with using it to develop kodachrome, which i don't really care about doing, but that does mean it should basically work with film instead of paper (not surprising but good to know)
so that means the following process should produce monochromatic slides:
- first developer (normal b&w developer exactly like you're trying to get a b&w negative - in my case that'll be xtol)
- re-exposure
- re-develop using polytoner prepared with an equal mixture of couplers
- c-41 bleach (or the bleach from the polytoner kit if i feel like mixing it (it's pretty much the same stuff afaik))
- c-41 fixer (not b&w, thanks @tef)
might try it
addendum: i just realized that i could use this process to develop black and white 120 / sheet film as positives as well. i've gotta try this. everyone says medium / large format slides look ridiculously good
