REPROCESSIBILITY OF DICHROMATED GELATIN REFLECTION GRATINGS

The reprocessibility of dichromated gelatin reflection gratings is stu died. Reflection gratings developed in six slightly different ways are reprocessed after three years storage. Reflection (diffraction) effic iencies are strongly decreased during storage. After reprocessing refl ection efficiencies are close to the original reflection efficiencies. Restoration is better when the original reflection efficiency (RE) is not very high (RE < 90-degrees). When, the plates, which are rapidly dehydrated during development procedure, are reprocessed using slow de hydration, reflection efficiencies have often been even better after r eprocessing than one day after exposure and the original development p rocedure.