I recently purchased 2 35mm rolls of Kodak Ektagraphic HC Slide Film. This is a high contrast black and white orthochromatic film primarily used for copying bl ack and white line originals. I have never shot orthochromatic film and decided a couple of test rolls was in order after reading that this film has been used by some for male portraiture (Ansel Adams - The Negative). I understand (to a c ertain point) that the effective film speed of ortho film varies with the lighti ng conditions and the developer utilized. I have called Portland Photographics (Maine) and they will process ortho film with the developer I specify. Of cours e, I will bracket the initial test roll under various lighting to get a feel for how the film responds. Unfortunately, in reading the film data sheet, I have b ecome thoroughly confused. Quite simply, the point of this question is to recei ve some starting point (film speed) at which I may begin bracketing. The data s heet supplied reads as follows: "COPYING LINE ORIGINALS; Exposure index: Film speed depends upon the developer being used. Trial exposure times given below apply to a same-size (1:1) reproduction exposed with two 500-watt reflector-type photolamps at about 4.5 feet from the center of the copy." Four developers are listed with corresponding exposure index and trial exposure time. For example, "Developer: Kodak D-11; Exposure Index: 25; Trial exposure time: 9 sec at f /22 or 9 sec at f/11 with a 0.60 neutral-density filter." I have reviewed the p ost regarding ortho film submitted last year and much of the responses refer to Ilford ortho film. Although I have found a couple of ortho films on the Kodak w ebsite, there is no film labeled as "Ektagraphic HC slide film" from which I may gather more information. Given that I will shoot a landscape and a portrait (t ungsten and flash) with the initial test roll, I'm having a difficult time trans lating the above info into a starting point for bracketing. I'm sure the test r olls will answer many of my questions but I would like to begin with a bit more knowledge on what I'm doing in order to secure some useful results. Much thanks to anyone who read all the way to this point. Further thanks to anyone who can shed some properly exposed light on this subject.