Tasma

Tasma is a Russian photographic-materials manufacturer based in Kazan. Its industrial history began in 1933, when the operation was established as Film Factory No. 8. The factory later adopted the Tasma name in 1974, derived from the Russian phrase "Tatarskie Svetochuvstvitelnye Materialy," meaning Tatar sensitized materials. The name reflects both the company’s regional origin in Tatarstan and its specialization in light-sensitive photographic products. The company’s historical importance is closely connected with the Soviet photographic-materials industry. During the Second World War, Tasma’s Kazan factory was the only one of its kind remaining in operation in the Soviet Union, and it supplied the country’s domestic photographic-material requirements for the war effort. In recognition of this contribution, the factory received the Order of the Red Banner of Labor medal in 1944. This wartime role established Tasma as an important strategic producer rather than merely a commercial photographic brand. Tasma produced both black-and-white and colour photographic materials. Its colour range, introduced from 1950, was part of the broader Soviet effort to develop domestic alternatives to imported photographic supplies. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Iron Curtain period, the colour products were discontinued. The company was reorganized as a free enterprise and privatized in 1992, marking its transition from a Soviet state-industrial operation to a post-Soviet private enterprise. The company’s current product identity is centered on black-and-white photographic film. Its KN-1, KN-2, and KN-3 negative films are used by photographers in Russia and have also found applications among motion-picture cinematographers internationally. Tasma supplies film in 16 mm, 35 mm, and 70 mm formats, allowing the brand to serve still-photography and professional motion-picture requirements. In addition to photographic film, the company manufactures adhesive tape and demineralized water, giving it a broader industrial-materials portfolio than a consumer photography label alone. Tasma is best understood as a specialized industrial brand with deep Soviet-era manufacturing heritage. Its positioning is based on domestic production, continuity of photographic-materials expertise, and the availability of film formats relevant to archival, artistic, technical, and motion-picture use. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about its present ownership, management, sales, financial performance, distribution network, and current production volumes; these details therefore remain unspecified.

Tasma traces its origins to 1933, when the Kazan operation was established as Film Factory No. 8. The factory formed part of the Soviet Union’s effort to build domestic capacity for producing photographic materials, an area with strategic importance for government documentation, science, industry, culture, and military operations. Its location in Kazan connected the enterprise to the industrial base of Tatarstan while allowing it to serve the wider Soviet market. The factory acquired particular significance during the Second World War. According to the available historical account, Tasma’s Kazan facility was the only Soviet photographic-materials factory that remained in operation during the conflict. It consequently supplied the entirety of the domestic Soviet photographic-material requirement for the war effort. The state recognized this contribution in 1944 with a medal for the Order of the Red Banner of Labor. The award reflects the factory’s role in maintaining production under wartime conditions and in supporting the continued use of photographic documentation and imaging materials. From 1950, the operation also offered colour photographic products. This expanded its role beyond black-and-white materials and placed it within the Soviet Union’s developing colour-photography sector. The available reference material does not specify the individual colour product names or the technical processes used, but it records that colour products remained part of the company’s portfolio before the post-Soviet transition. The name Tasma was adopted in 1974. It derives from the Russian phrase "Tatarskie Svetochuvstvitelnye Materialy," translated as Tatar sensitized materials. The name therefore functions as both a corporate identity and a reference to the company’s regional roots and technical specialization in light-sensitive media. The dissolution of the Soviet Union changed the company’s organizational setting. In 1992, Tasma was reorganized as a free enterprise and privatized. This transition ended its status as a Soviet state enterprise and introduced the company into the post-Soviet market economy. The colour photographic line was discontinued after the fall of the Soviet Union and the associated opening of markets, while black-and-white film remained central to the company’s identity. Tasma’s documented black-and-white range includes KN-1, KN-2, and KN-3 negative films. These products are used by photographers in Russia and by motion-picture cinematographers internationally. The company provides film in 16 mm, 35 mm, and 70 mm formats, indicating coverage of both conventional still-photography applications and professional or archival motion-picture work. Alongside film, Tasma manufactures adhesive tape and demineralized water, products that broaden its business beyond photographic emulsions. The available reference material identifies Tasma as a GOST- and ISO-certified manufacturer, although it does not specify the individual standards or certificate dates. It also does not provide reliable public information about current executives, ownership, revenue, production volumes, retail distribution, or a stable official website URL. The documented history nevertheless presents Tasma as a continuing specialist manufacturer whose principal brand equity derives from its Kazan origins, wartime industrial role, Soviet photographic legacy, and surviving black-and-white film production.

• 1992

  Reorganization and privatization

  [1]Tasmaen.wikipedia.org

  Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Tasma is reorganized as a free enterprise and privatized.

• 1974

  The Tasma name is adopted

  [1]Tasmaen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopts the name Tasma, derived from a Russian phrase meaning Tatar sensitized materials.

• 1950

  Colour photographic products introduced

  [1]Tasmaen.wikipedia.org

  Tasma begins offering colour photographic products as part of its broader photographic-materials portfolio.

• 1944

  Wartime contribution receives state recognition

  [1]Tasmaen.wikipedia.org

  After remaining in operation during the Second World War and supplying Soviet domestic photographic materials, the factory receives a medal for the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.

• 1933

  Film Factory No. 8 begins operation

  [1]Tasmaen.wikipedia.org

  The Kazan photographic-materials operation that later became Tasma starts production as Film Factory No. 8.

A specialist Russian photographic-materials and industrial-products manufacturer, distinguished by long-running Kazan production, Soviet photographic-industry heritage, and black-and-white film for still photography and cinematography.

• Black-and-white negative photographic film

  KN-1

  KN-1 is one of Tasma’s documented black-and-white negative-film products. The reference material identifies it as part of the company’s film range used by photographers in Russia and by motion-picture cinematographers internationally. Tasma’s film products are supplied in multiple formats, including 16 mm, 35 mm, and 70 mm, although the available source does not assign a specific format to KN-1.

• Black-and-white negative photographic film

  KN-2

  KN-2 is a Tasma black-and-white negative film intended for photographic use and associated with the company’s continuing film portfolio. The product is described as popular among photographers in Russia and relevant to international motion-picture cinematography. Public reference material does not provide detailed sensitivity, emulsion, processing, or format specifications for this product.

• Black-and-white negative photographic film

  KN-3

  KN-3 is another named member of Tasma’s black-and-white negative-film range. It forms part of the company’s specialist offering for photographic and cinematographic applications. Tasma makes film available in 16 mm, 35 mm, and 70 mm formats, but the available source does not identify the exact format options or technical characteristics associated specifically with KN-3.

• Colour photographic materials · 1950

  Colour photographic products

  Tasma offered a range of colour photographic products from 1950. These products represented an expansion beyond the company’s black-and-white materials and formed part of its Soviet-era portfolio. The colour line was discontinued after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Iron Curtain. The available reference does not identify individual products or discontinuation dates.

• Industrial materials

  Adhesive tape

  Adhesive tape is one of the non-photographic products attributed to Tasma. Its inclusion shows that the company’s manufacturing scope extends beyond light-sensitive media into general industrial materials. The available reference does not specify the tape’s construction, applications, product grades, or distribution channels.

• Industrial and technical materials

  Demineralized water

  Tasma also manufactures demineralized water. This product broadens the company’s portfolio into a technical consumable category that may support industrial or laboratory uses, although the available source does not document specific applications, packaging, grades, or customers.

1. 1Tasmaen.wikipedia.org