Kodak · Discontinued
Kodak Aerochrome III Infrared
The legendary false-colour infrared film that turns foliage crimson.
| ISO / Speed | 400 |
| Type | Color Slide |
| Process | E-6 |
| Formats | 35mm · 120 |
| Grain | Moderate |
| Exposure latitude | Narrow |
| Color cast | magenta，high saturation, high contrast |
| Brand | Kodak |
Generated color character — not a sample photograph
Kodak Aerochrome (Aerochrome III Infrared 1443 / EIR) is the iconic colour-infrared transparency film that renders healthy green foliage in vivid reds and pinks. Originally an aerial-survey stock, it became a cult art film before its discontinuation, and surviving rolls now trade at collector prices.
Character & look
Aerochrome is sensitive into the near-infrared and uses a false-colour dye layout: infrared-reflecting vegetation turns red/magenta, skies go deep, and skin takes on a waxy pink. It needs a yellow (or orange) filter over the lens to block blue and reveal the effect, and careful handling in subdued light when loading. Results are unpredictable and dreamlike — which is exactly why photographers chased it.
Best for
Surreal landscapesInfrared artFoliageExperimental colour
Shooting & development tips
Use a yellow #12 filter as a starting point and bracket widely — effective speed shifts with the filter. Load and unload in shade, meter conservatively, and send it to a lab experienced with infrared/E-6. Every roll is an experiment.
FAQ
Why does Aerochrome make trees red?
It is a false-colour infrared film. Living foliage strongly reflects near-infrared light, and Aerochrome's dye layers map that infrared response to red, so healthy plants glow crimson.
Can I still buy Kodak Aerochrome?
Only as expired, cold-stored stock at high prices — Kodak discontinued it around 2009 and no true equivalent has replaced it. LomoChrome Purple offers a loosely similar colour-shift effect on a normal C-41 film.