Wiki
Find answers to your questions
Developing with ECN-2 film at home with Flic Film kit
Table of Contents
Developing Motion Picture Film at Home with Flic Film ECN-2
ECN-2 is the process used to develop motion picture colour negative films like Kodak Vision3. It involves more steps than standard C-41, but the results are worth it: finer grain, beautiful colour rendition, and that distinctive cinematic look. This guide covers the full process for both the Flic Film ECN-2 8-Roll Kit (0.5 L) and the 16-Roll Kit (1 L).
Before You Start
If you have shot Kodak Vision3 or any other motion picture colour film, you may have noticed that most labs charge a premium to process it, or don't accept it at all. The good news is that ECN-2 is very achievable at home with the right kit and a bit of patience.
The key difference between ECN-2 and standard C-41 is the Remjet backing. Motion picture films have a black carbon anti-halation layer coated on the base of the film. This layer must be softened and removed during processing, otherwise it will contaminate your chemistry and leave black residue on your negatives. The Flic Film ECN-2 kit handles this with a dedicated pre-bath step that softens the Remjet before development begins.
Flic Film is a Canadian film photography company known for making specialist chemistry and motion picture stocks accessible to still photographers. Their ECN-2 kit comes in two sizes: an 8-Roll Kit (0.5 L) and a 16-Roll Kit (1 L). Both contain Pre-Bath, Developer, Stop Bath, Bleach, Fixer, and Stabilizer. Most chemicals are powder concentrates dissolved in water before use. The Stop Bath in the 1 L kit is a liquid concentrate.
The ECN-2 process runs through six chemical stages after the pre-bath. Each one does a specific job, and the temperature requirements are stricter than C-41. Most steps run at 41.1 °C (106 °F), which is higher than standard C-41, so temperature control is especially important here.
If you have an AGO Film Processor, it monitors your chemistry temperature throughout the process and adjusts development timing automatically, making ECN-2 at home significantly more manageable.
What You'll Need
ECN-2 requires more equipment than C-41 due to the Remjet removal step. Get everything together before you start.
- Flic Film ECN-2 Kit (Pre-Bath, Developer, Stop Bath, Bleach, Fixer, Stabilizer), available in 8-Roll (0.5 L) and 16-Roll (1 L) sizes
- Film developing tank and reels (Paterson, AP, or Jobo type)
- Six chemical storage containers: 500 ml for the 8-roll kit, 1 L for the 16-roll kit
- Graduated cylinder or measuring jug
- Accurate thermometer (critical for 41.1 °C / 106 °F control)
- Water bath for maintaining temperature
- Distilled water for all mixing
- Microfiber cloth for Remjet removal
- Protective gloves, safety goggles and a mask
- Film clips for drying
- Scissors and a light-tight changing bag (or darkroom) for loading
Optional but highly recommended: The AGO Film Processor monitors your chemistry temperature and adjusts development timing automatically. Given the higher temperature requirements of ECN-2, this makes the process considerably more reliable.
About the Flic Film ECN-2 Kit
The kit is available in two sizes. The 8-Roll Kit makes 500 ml of each working solution and processes up to 8 rolls. The 16-Roll Kit makes 1 L of each working solution and processes up to 16 rolls. All chemicals can be reused across sessions until the capacity is reached. Store solutions in sealed bottles at room temperature away from light and heat.
Kit capacity: 8-Roll Kit: up to 8 rolls · 16-Roll Kit: up to 16 rolls.
The Stop Bath exhausts faster than the other chemicals. In the 8-Roll Kit it lasts for 8 rolls. In the 16-Roll Kit, the bottle contains enough concentrate for two batches: mix the first 15 ml now and keep the remaining 15 ml to mix a fresh batch once the first is exhausted at 8 rolls.
Mixing the Chemistry
Mix each chemical separately using clean, clearly labelled containers. Use distilled water for all mixing. Volumes below are shown for both kit sizes. The developer requires a higher mixing temperature than the other chemicals to dissolve fully, so read each step carefully before starting.
1 - Pre-Bath
Dissolve the powder in water at 38 °C (100 °F), stir until fully dissolved, then top up with distilled water to final volume.
8-Roll Kit: 400 ml water, top up to 500 ml. 16-Roll Kit: 800 ml water, top up to 1 L.
2 - Developer
Dissolve the powder in water at 45 °C (113 °F). The higher temperature is needed to dissolve the developer powder fully. Stir thoroughly, then top up to final volume.
8-Roll Kit: 400 ml water, top up to 500 ml. 16-Roll Kit: 800 ml water, top up to 1 L.
3 - Stop Bath
The Stop Bath is a liquid concentrate. Add to water and top up to final volume.
8-Roll Kit: add the full packet to water, top up to 500 ml. 16-Roll Kit: add 15 ml concentrate to 800 ml water, top up to 1 L. The 16-Roll Kit bottle contains 30 ml total, so keep the remaining 15 ml to mix a fresh batch after 8 rolls.
4 - Bleach
Dissolve the powder in water at 38 °C (100 °F), stir until fully dissolved, then top up to final volume.
8-Roll Kit: 400 ml water, top up to 500 ml. 16-Roll Kit: 800 ml water, top up to 1 L.
5 - Fixer
Add room temperature distilled water to the fixer to make the working solution.
8-Roll Kit: top up to 500 ml. 16-Roll Kit: top up to 1 L.
6 - Stabilizer
Add the stabilizer to room temperature distilled water and stir gently.
8-Roll Kit: add to 500 ml water. 16-Roll Kit: add to 1 L water.
Storage tip: Stopper all bottles and store at room temperature away from light and heat. Label every bottle clearly before storing.
Temperature Targets
ECN-2 runs at higher temperatures than C-41. Getting these right is one of the most important factors in achieving consistent results.
| Chemical | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Pre-Bath | 27 °C / 80 °F |
| Developer | 41.1 °C / 106 °F |
| Stop Bath | 41.1 °C / 106 °F |
| Bleach | 41.1 °C / 106 °F |
| Fixer | 41.1 °C / 106 °F |
| Stabilizer | Room temperature |
Step-by-Step Developing Process
The times below are for use with the AGO Film Processor. If developing manually, refer to the process summary table. For AGO chemistry volumes by tank size, see the table in the What You'll Need section above.
Step 1 Pre-Bath: 27 °C, 0:10 min
The pre-bath softens the Remjet carbon backing so it can be removed after fixing. Fill the tank to capacity, tap the sides to release any air bubbles, and soak for 10 seconds. Return the pre-bath to its container, then rinse the tank three times by exchanging the water vigorously each time.
Agitation: none during the soak. Vigorous shaking during each of the three rinses.
Step 2 Wash: 3:00 min (AGO) / 2:00 min (manual)
Rinse with water to clear pre-bath residue before development begins. Exchange water thoroughly.
Step 3 Developer: 41.1 °C, 3:00 min
This is the most critical step. The developer reacts with the exposed silver in your film to create the visible image. Temperature accuracy is especially important here as ECN-2 runs hotter than C-41. The AGO Film Processor monitors this and adjusts timing accordingly.
Agitation (manual): continuous for the first 10 sec, then 4 inversions every 30 sec for 3 minutes total.
Step 4 Stop Bath: 41.1 °C, 0:30 min
The stop bath immediately halts development, preventing over-development and protecting the bleach from developer contamination. Add the stop bath, invert once, and let it stand for 30 seconds.
Agitation: one inversion only, then no further agitation.
Step 5 Wash: 0:30 min
Rinse with water, exchanging three times, to clear stop bath residue before bleaching.
Step 6 Bleach: 41.1 °C, 3:00 min
The bleach converts the metallic silver created during development into a form the fixer can remove. Without this step your negatives would come out very dark.
Agitation (manual): continuous for the first 10 sec, then 4 inversions every 30 sec for 3 minutes total. Follow with three water exchanges.
Step 7 Wash: 1:00 min
Rinse with water, exchanging three times, to clear bleach residue before fixing.
Step 8 Fixer: 41.1 °C, 2:00 min
The fixer removes all remaining light-sensitive silver from the film, making the image stable and permanent. After this step your film is no longer light-sensitive.
Agitation (manual): continuous for the first 10 sec, then 4 inversions every 30 sec for 2 minutes total. Follow with a 5-minute running water wash.
Step 9 Remjet Removal
Remove the film from the reel. The Remjet backing has been softened by the pre-bath and should now wipe away easily. Using a wet microfiber cloth, gently wipe the base side of the film (the dull, non-emulsion side) to remove the remaining carbon backing. Work gently in one direction.
⚠ Never rub the emulsion side. Scratches on the base can show up in scans.
Step 10 Wash: 5:00 min
A thorough final wash under running water to clear all fixer residue from the film before stabilizing.
Step 11 Stabilizer: room temperature, 1:00 min
Immerse the film in stabilizer at room temperature for 1 minute. Avoid excessive agitation to prevent bubbles forming on the emulsion surface.
Drying the Film
Hang the film in a clean, dust-free space using film clips. Attach a weighted clip at the bottom to prevent curling. Leave it to dry fully before cutting or scanning, as handling wet film can cause scratches and marks that cannot be undone. Scan in a dust-free environment to get the best results from your freshly developed film.
Process Summary
A quick reference for all steps. Bookmark this page so you can check it during development.
| Step | Temp | AGO Time | Manual Time | Agitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Bath | 27 °C | 0:10 min | 0:10 min | None; vigorous rinse x3 |
| Wash | Any | 2:00 min | 3x exchange | Exchange water |
| Developer | 41.1 °C | 3:00 min | 3:00 min | 10 s continuous, then 4 inv. / 30 s |
| Stop Bath | 41.1 °C | 0:30 min | 0:30 min | 1 inversion only, then stand |
| Wash | Any | 0:30 min | 3x exchange | Exchange water |
| Bleach | 41.1 °C | 3:00 min | 3:00 min | 10 s continuous, then 4 inv. / 30 s |
| Wash | Any | 1:00 min | 3x exchange | Exchange water |
| Fixer | 41.1 °C | 2:00 min | 2:00 min | 10 s continuous, then 4 inv. / 30 s |
| Wash | Any | 5:00 min | 5:00 min | Running water |
| Remjet Removal | Any | - | - | Wet cloth on base side only |
| Stabilizer | Room temp | - | 1:00 min | Gentle; avoid bubbles |
Tips for Better Results
- Temperature control is the single most important factor in ECN-2. Even a 1-2 °C shift can affect colour balance. Use a reliable thermometer and keep your chemistry in a water bath between steps.
- The AGO Film Processor monitors chemistry temperature throughout the process and adjusts timing automatically, which makes managing ECN-2 at home much more reliable.
- When removing Remjet, be gentle and work on the base side only. The emulsion side is fragile when wet, and scratches will be visible in your scans.
- For Kodak Vision3 films, ECN-2 gives you the cleanest, most accurate colours with finer grain than cross-processing in C-41. It is worth the extra steps.
- Keep inversions consistent throughout development. Uneven agitation will result in uneven development across the frame.
- The Stop Bath is the first chemical to exhaust. In both kit sizes it lasts approximately 8 rolls. In the 16-Roll Kit, the Stop Bath bottle contains enough concentrate for two separate batches. Mix the first 15 ml at the start and reserve the remaining 15 ml to mix a fresh batch once the first is exhausted.
- Scan your negatives in a dust-free environment. Motion picture film negatives reward careful scanning, and any dust or Remjet residue will show up clearly at high resolution.
The Results Are Worth It
ECN-2 is a more involved process than C-41, but it is not out of reach for home developers. Once you have done it a couple of times and have your temperature workflow dialled in, it becomes a satisfying and repeatable process. The negatives you get from Kodak Vision3 processed in proper ECN-2 chemistry are genuinely beautiful: fine grain, rich colours, and real cinematic character.
The Flic Film kit gives you everything you need in a well-packaged, clearly documented format. Follow the steps, respect the temperatures, and handle the Remjet removal carefully, and you will get professional-quality motion picture negatives at home.
If you have any questions about ECN-2 or getting started with the AGO Film Processor, feel free to reach out. We are always happy to help.
Updated on 13 Feb 2026