LomographyLomoChrome Purple

LomoChrome Purple is a Lomography color negative film for standard C-41 processing that shifts colors on purpose: in Lomography’s words, “blue becomes green, green becomes purple and yellow becomes pink”, while red tones stay red [1]. It is sold as ISO 100–400 in 35 mm, 120 and 110 [1] [4]. It is not an infrared film, although Lomography launched it in 2013 to evoke the look of Kodak Aerochrome infrared film [7] [5].

Look and color

Lomography publishes no data on how the film shifts colors. The descriptions below come from reviews, and they do not always agree.

• Greens turn purple. Analog.cafe finds that most greens come out in the same hue, though “cool and bright green shades will remain green” [4]. On overcast days, foliage can become “a dark and ugly mess” [5].
• Blues turn teal, turquoise or green. Skies come out “light cyan or teal” [5], turquoise [6] [10], “aqua/green” [8] or plainly green [7]. Analog.cafe says blues “drift slightly towards the green” [4].
• Yellows and oranges turn pink. Oranges, reds and even yellows are “rendered as pinkish-red” [4]; a yellow buoy turns pink and golden sand purple [7].
• Reds mostly stay red. Lomography says so [1]. Richard Haw noted a slight drop in saturation and red seats turning brownish [5]; FilmProcessing.co.uk saw some reds shift to orange [10].
• Unexpected swaps. Pinks turn pale yellow [7] and purples turn green [4]. Whites stay white [5] [10].
• Skin: the sources disagree.
  • Lomography says red tones stay red, “keeping skin tones looking natural” [1].
  • Reviewers found skin “a little more rosy” [6], “orangey” [8], or like “an old, weathered photo” [5]. Matt Murray would not call it natural [7], and Analog.cafe finds it flattering but not natural [4].
• Shadows and dim light show more purple [4] [8].
• Strong saturation. The Darkroom gives it the top saturation rating [3].
• The scan matters. Emulsive found the scanner settings had more influence on the final colors than any other factor [8].

Tonality

• No published curve. Lomography publishes no datasheet [4].
• Wide latitude. Lomography markets an extended range, “XR”, and Analog.cafe finds that it holds detail in shadows and highlights [4]. The Darkroom gives it the top latitude rating [3].
• The rating changes the effect, but reviewers disagree on the direction.
  • The Darkroom: at ISO 100 greens become “a shiny purple”, at ISO 400 “a darker indigo” [3].
  • Casual Photophile: at 400, darker and bluer purples; at 200, pinker tones and turquoise skies [6].
  • Matt Murray: at 400, more intense reds and purples and a greener sky; at 100, a paler, more muted version [7].
  • Analog.cafe: rated at 400, stronger purples; rated at 100, lighter teal hues [4].
• Shadows. A Darkroom user found them “kind of muddy”, especially at ISO 400 [3]. Emulsive found results grainy when pushed beyond EI 400 [8].
• Hotspots. Richard Haw saw a bright spot in the center of some sunny frames, as on infrared film, but found no infrared sensitivity in a test and advises keeping the sun off the front of the lens [5].

Grain and sharpness

No granularity figure is published [4].

• Manufacturer and reviews disagree. Lomography promises “fine grain” [1]. Analog.cafe finds it “grainy but not any more than you’d expect from a typical colour ISO 400 film”, with sharp grain [4]. Richard Haw calls it “by no means a fine-grain film”, more visible in the shadows [5], and Chris Chinnock “most definitely not a smooth film” [9].
• Sharpness. Chris Chinnock finds it resolves a lot of detail, especially in the highlights [9].

Names, status and history

• 2013 launch. Lomography announced LomoChrome Purple in January 2013 as “a color negative film that yields infrared results”, with the first rolls shipped in July 2013 [7], in 35 mm and 120 [6]. Kodak Aerochrome had been discontinued in 2011 [7].
• Reformulations. In 2017 Lomography announced a new emulsion with more red sensitivity, better exposure at ISO 400 and less grain; boxes later read “New 2019 formula”, sold with the same promises [7]. Casual Photophile describes the 2019 version as “even more saturated” with stronger magenta [6].
• 2021 Pétillant. The current product is the “2021 LomoChrome Purple Pétillant”, which Lomography says may add “a sparkling surprise on some frames” and tiny black dots in light areas [1]. Analog.cafe lists it in 35 mm, 120 and 110 [4].
• Names. Reviews also call it “LomoChrome Purple XR 100–400”, the extended-range name [4] [5].
• Where it is made. Lomography does not say who coats it. Matt Murray found 2013 boxes marked “Made in Europe” or “Made in China”, and 2019-formula boxes “Made in China” [7].
• Status. On September 29, 2026, Lomography listed the 35 mm and 120 versions [1] [2].