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Black-and-white negative · Black & white

Ilford Ortho Plus

Blue-and-green-only black-and-white, born as copy film.

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Planned media

Orthochromatic black-and-white: reds go dark. Original vs Ashigrain.

Ilford Ortho Plus, Kodak B&W Print Film 2302

stock
Ilford Ortho Plus
mode
Print
print_film
Kodak B&W Print Film 2302
film_format
35mm still (135)
Exposure index
80
EI 80 daylight / EI 40 tungsten
Introduced
by 1997
In production
Process
ILFORD ID-11 (stock)
Prints on
2302
Kodak B&W Print Film 2302

About the film

Ilford Ortho Plus began as a technical film: Harman describes it as a high-resolution copy film for negatives, with medical and scientific users, and it was previously sold only as sheet film.

In October 2019 Harman announced 35 mm and 120 versions at the PhotoPlus show in New York, with the emulsion coated onto an acetate base. Ilford's marketing director Giles Branthwaite explained the move by saying photographers want choice and enjoy trying new films. Because it sees only blue and green, it can be handled under a deep red safelight and even developed by inspection, and reds and oranges come out darker than on panchromatic film. The look can also be faked: for The Lighthouse, Jarin Blaschke filtered Kodak Double-X to imitate early-1900s orthochromatic stock, blind to red. Ilford rates Ortho Plus ISO 80 in daylight and 40 under tungsten, and its contrast is set in the darkroom, from pictorial in ID-11 to high contrast in Phenisol. Sheet film is coated on polyester with an anti-halation backing that clears in development, while the roll film's acetate base does the anti-halation work itself. Harman says photographers' interest has grown markedly since the roll launch, and in 2025 it opened a window to order the film in ultra-large-format sheet sizes.

Sources for this history
  1. ILFORD ORTHO PLUS technical information, HARMAN technology Limited
  2. ILFORD Unveils Ortho 35mm and 120 Film, 5th-Gen MULTIGRADE RC Paper, PetaPixel
  3. Ilford Photo releases new Ortho Plus film and Multigrade RC Deluxe paper, Kosmo Foto
  4. 2025 ILFORD ORTHO PLUS ULF Film Program, HARMAN technology Limited
  5. Stormy Isle: The Lighthouse, American Society of Cinematographers
  6. The Black and White Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Monochrome Techniques (1997), David & Charles (Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz)
  7. Advertising Photography: Creative Large Format (1997), Urs Tillmanns

The look

Ilford Ortho Plus sees only blue and green light, so reds and oranges print dark and the film can be handled under a deep red safelight. Rated EI 80, this fine-grained copy emulsion reached 35 mm and 120 in 2019. It prints on Kodak B&W Print Film 2302 by default.

Planned media

Bright skies and dark reds on an ortho film.

Ilford Ortho Plus, Kodak B&W Print Film 2302

stock
Ilford Ortho Plus
mode
Print
print_film
Kodak B&W Print Film 2302
film_format
35mm still (135)

Planned media

Orthochromatic skin tones.

Ilford Ortho Plus, Kodak B&W Print Film 2302

stock
Ilford Ortho Plus
mode
Print
print_film
Kodak B&W Print Film 2302
film_format
35mm still (135)

Best for

  1. Weathered faces and portraits
  2. Landscapes with bright skies
  3. Early-cinema black-and-white looks

Among the films

FilmSpeedGrain, RMS σD · lower is finerYears made
Technicolor Process IITechnicolor Process II−2⅓ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain coarserEI 16−2⅓ stops.0201922
DS-5MDS-5M−1 stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 40−1 stop.0051979
Kodak Aerochrome III 1443Kodak Aerochrome III 1443−1 stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain coarserEI 40−1 stop.0242001
Kodak Vision3 50DKodak Vision3 50DMade since 2011, in production · −⅔ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 50−⅔ stop.0052011–
Fujifilm Velvia 50Fujifilm Velvia 50Made since 2007, in production · −⅔ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 50−⅔ stop.0092007–
Agfa Agfacolor Ultra 50Agfa Agfacolor Ultra 50−⅔ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 50−⅔ stop.0051995
Kodak Kodachrome 64Kodak Kodachrome 64Made 1974–2009 · −⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 64−⅓ stop.0121974–2009
Fujifilm Fujichrome 64T Type IIFujifilm Fujichrome 64T Type II−⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 64−⅓ stop.0102002
Ilford Ortho PlusIlford Ortho PlusMade since 1997, in production · this filmEI 80this film.0151997–
Polaroid Type 669Polaroid Type 669same speed vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain coarserEI 80same speed.0241981
Svema LN-9Svema LN-9+⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 95+⅓ stop.0071988
Fujifilm Astia 100FFujifilm Astia 100FMade 2003–2012 · +⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 100+⅓ stop.0082003–12
Agfa Agfachrome RSX II 100Agfa Agfachrome RSX II 100+⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 100+⅓ stop.0121998
Agfa Agfacolor Optima II 100Agfa Agfacolor Optima II 100+⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 100+⅓ stop.0051998
Kodak Ektar 100Kodak Ektar 100Made since 2008, in production · +⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 100+⅓ stop.0052008–
Kodak Ektachrome 100DKodak Ektachrome 100DMade since 2018, in production · +⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 100+⅓ stop.0142018–
Fomapan R 100Fomapan R 100Made since 1980, in production · +⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain coarserEI 100+⅓ stop.0221980–
NK-2NK-2+⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 100+⅓ stop.0131980
Fujifilm FP-100CFujifilm FP-100CMade 1992–2016 · +⅓ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain coarserEI 100+⅓ stop.0231992–2016
Eastman Color Negative 5247Eastman Color Negative 5247+⅔ stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 125+⅔ stop.0051983
Agfa Agfacolor Portrait XPS 160Agfa Agfacolor Portrait XPS 160+1 stop vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 160+1 stop.0071995
Kodak Vision3 200TKodak Vision3 200TMade since 2010, in production · +1⅓ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 200+1⅓ stops.0072010–
Kodak Tri-X Reversal 7266Kodak Tri-X Reversal 7266Made since 2003, in production · +1⅓ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain coarserEI 200+1⅓ stops.0252003–
Kodak Vision3 250DKodak Vision3 250DMade since 2009, in production · +1⅔ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 250+1⅔ stops.0072009–
Fujifilm Eterna 250DFujifilm Eterna 250DMade 2005–2013 · +1⅔ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 250+1⅔ stops.0042005–13
Kodak Aerocolor IV 2460Kodak Aerocolor IV 2460Made since 2009, in production · +1⅔ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 250+1⅔ stops.0132009–
Eastman Double-X 5222Eastman Double-X 5222Made since 1960, in production · +1⅔ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain the sameEI 250+1⅔ stops.0151960–
Fujifilm Pro 400HFujifilm Pro 400HMade 2004–2021 · +2⅓ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 400+2⅓ stops.0042004–21
Kodak Vision3 500TKodak Vision3 500TMade since 2007, in production · +2⅔ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 500+2⅔ stops.0072007–
Kodak Vision2 Expression 500TKodak Vision2 Expression 500T+2⅔ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 500+2⅔ stops.0092003
Fujifilm Eterna 500Fujifilm Eterna 500Made 2004–2013 · +2⅔ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 500+2⅔ stops.0042004–13
Fujifilm Eterna Vivid 500Fujifilm Eterna Vivid 500Made 2009–2013 · +2⅔ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 500+2⅔ stops.0042009–13
Kodak Portra 800Kodak Portra 800Made since 2000, in production · +3⅓ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain finerEI 800+3⅓ stops.0082000–
Kodak T-Max P3200Kodak T-Max P3200Made since 1988, in production · +3⅓ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain coarserEI 800+3⅓ stops.0191988–
Kodak Ektachrome P1600Kodak Ektachrome P1600+4⅓ stops vs Ilford Ortho Plus · grain coarserEI 1600+4⅓ stops.0381999

Science & sources

Ilford Ortho Plus calibration chart: OriginalIlford Ortho Plus calibration chart: Processed
Synthetic test chart (grey ramp, ColorChecker, hue sweep, point highlights) before and after the full Ashigrain pipeline: print branch on Kodak B&W Print Film 2302, Super 35 4-perf, default controls, exposure +0.63 stops to match the original's mid-grey, frame 0.

An orthochromatic black-and-white negative, sensitive to blue and green light only. It prints on Kodak B&W Print Film 2302 by default. Its sharpness and grain are borrowed from Eastman Double-X 5222.

Response curves and the evidence behind the model

Compare manufacturer data with the Ashigrain model on the same axes. This shows the calibration to source curves; comparison with photographed film is a separate question.

Characteristic response

Density against log H (lux-seconds) for channels N. R circles, G squares, B triangles, N diamonds; filled markers and solid lines are digitised, open markers and dashed lines are simulated: digitised and simulated.0.01.02.03.04.0log H (lux-seconds)0.00.51.01.5Density

RMS granularity

RMS granularity (σD) against Density for channels N. R circles, G squares, B triangles, N diamonds; filled markers and solid lines are datasheet-based, open markers and dashed lines are simulated: datasheet-based and simulated.0.20.40.60.81.0Density0.00.0050.010.015RMS granularity (σD)

Density variation (σD). Where the datasheet gives a single grain value, the response away from that point is an approximation.

ChannelDensityDatasheet-based σDModel σD
N0.30.0077410.008032
N0.60.0109490.011361
N10.0141360.014668

Model limits

These images show the film model in use. Spectral response, lighting and viewing conditions include approximations, while halation, bloom, grain size, weave and flicker are not fully measured for each film. A real film capture also depends on development and print timing.

  • Custom lighting spectra, camera metering and the spectral reflectance inferred from fixed-white-balance footage are modeled assumptions, not measurements of this film.
  • The film is orthochromatic: it has no sensitivity above about 565 nm, so reds render dark. Its sensitivity shape comes from a wedge spectrogram, not a calibrated sensitivity curve.
  • The source gives daylight and tungsten exposure indices but no colour balance. Daylight calibration and spectrally neutral silver density are assumptions.
  • No MTF or granularity is published. Both are proxied from Eastman Double-X 5222, a black-and-white negative, so the sharpness and grain shown are that film's.
  • The curve is the ID-11 pictorial-contrast curve on a relative exposure axis; its normal-exposure point is assumed.
  • In the print branch it prints on Kodak B&W Print Film 2302 by default. Black-and-white print timing is modeled.
  • Characteristic response outside the published exposure range is an extrapolation, not measured film data.

Film guide: assumptions and practical choices

Sources

  1. Exposure index: ILFORD ORTHO PLUS technical information, Oct 2019, p. 1
  2. Characteristic curves: ILFORD ORTHO PLUS technical information, Oct 2019, p. 3
  3. Process: ILFORD ORTHO PLUS technical information, Oct 2019, p. 3

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