Kodak Portra 160NC

Color NegativeISO 160Discontinued

Characteristics

  • Grain: fine
  • Contrast: low
  • Latitude: wide
  • Formats available: 35mm, 120

Kodak Portra 160NC (Neutral Character) was the neutral-palette variant of the pre-2010 Portra 160 lineup — paired with Portra 160VC (Vivid Character) as the saturation-controlled sibling pair. The "NC" designation indicated lower saturation tuned for natural skin tone rendering; the "VC" designation indicated higher saturation for fashion and editorial work. Discontinued in 2010 when Kodak consolidated the Portra 160 line into a single combined formulation; freezer stock is the only source in 2026.

Key features

  • ISO 160 rated; fine grain
  • Neutral character — lower saturation than Portra 160VC, optimized for skin tones
  • Wide latitude (±2 stops)
  • C-41 process
  • Discontinued 2010 — freezer stock only in 2026
  • Replaced by single-formulation Portra 160 that combines the NC and VC characteristics

Workflow

  • Same as current Portra 160 — overexposure-tolerant, expose at EI 100-160, standard C-41
  • For freezer stock through 2026: refrigerated stock from 2008-2010 batches keeps within normal latitude

Practical notes

  • Modern alternative: current Kodak Portra 160 is the official replacement; the 2010 reformulation tried to capture both NC and VC characters in a single film. Photographers who specifically wanted the NC palette report that the current Portra 160 is slightly more saturated than the original NC.
  • Some photographers seek out NC freezer stock specifically for the lower-saturation rendering
  • Available historically in 35mm and 120; rare in 4×5

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