Kodak High-Speed Infrared
Encyclopedia
Kodak High-Speed Infrared film, also known as Kodak HIE was a popular black-and-white infrared photographic film from Kodak.
The prominent blooming or "glow" often seen in the highlights of infrared photographs is an artifact of HIE and not of infrared light itself. This is because although conventional photographic films have an anti-halation layer
that absorbs scattered light, HIE lacks this backing.
Kodak HIE must only be loaded and unloaded in total darkness.
HIE features a polyester
film base
that is very stable but susceptible to scratches, and therefore requires extra care during development, processing and scanning.
At the time of this notice, HIE Infrared 135-36 was available at a street price of around $12.00 a roll at US mail order outlets.
Despite the discontinuance of HIE, other newer infrared sensitive emulsions from EFKE, ROLLEI, and ILFORD are still available, but have differing sensitivity and specifications from the long-established HIE With the discontinuance of HIE, Efke's IR820 film has become the only IR film on the market with good sensitivity beyond 750 nm.
The prominent blooming or "glow" often seen in the highlights of infrared photographs is an artifact of HIE and not of infrared light itself. This is because although conventional photographic films have an anti-halation layer
Anti-halation backing
An anti-halation backing is a layer found in most photographic films. It is usually a coating on the back of the film base, but sometimes it is incorporated between the light-sensitive emulsion and the base. The light that passes through the emulsion is absorbed by the anti-halation layer...
that absorbs scattered light, HIE lacks this backing.
Kodak HIE must only be loaded and unloaded in total darkness.
HIE features a polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
film base
Film base
A film base is a transparent substrate which acts as a support medium for the photosensitive emulsion that lies atop it. Despite the numerous layers and coatings associated with the emulsion layer, the base generally accounts for the vast majority of the thickness of any given film stock...
that is very stable but susceptible to scratches, and therefore requires extra care during development, processing and scanning.
Discontinuation
As of November 2, 2007, "KODAK is preannouncing the discontinuance" of HIE Infrared 35 mm film stating the reasons that, "Demand for these products has been declining significantly in recent years, and it is no longer practical to continue to manufacture given the low volume, the age of the product formulations and the complexity of the processes involved."At the time of this notice, HIE Infrared 135-36 was available at a street price of around $12.00 a roll at US mail order outlets.
Despite the discontinuance of HIE, other newer infrared sensitive emulsions from EFKE, ROLLEI, and ILFORD are still available, but have differing sensitivity and specifications from the long-established HIE With the discontinuance of HIE, Efke's IR820 film has become the only IR film on the market with good sensitivity beyond 750 nm.