Originally Posted by
Ron Marshall
I will be starting a project soon using T-Max 400, where I will have to compress a 13 stop range. I am thinking of using semi-stand with either divided HC-110 or one of the Pyro formulas.
I have never tried pyro, but from the posts I have read, Pyrocat-HC or Hypercat or 510 or Dixactol sound promising.
Would such a compression be possible with any of these using rotary processing, or would semi-stand be required?
Which developer and technique do you recommend for such a contrast range?
I've had a good level of success with compensating development of both Tri-X and T-Max 100 using HC-110 in trays. I'm certain that you could only get the level of compensation with a form of standing development, or in a more extreme case, perhaps water bath development.
My specific procedure uses HC-110 with dilution 1 : 127, negatives are placed face up in a slosher tray. The development proceeds generally for 20 minutes at 68F with agitation for the first minute, and then for only 5 seconds every two minutes.
Another scheme that I've used is agitation for the first minute, and then for 15 seconds every 4 minutes thereafter. The technique has a lot of variables, though, so what you choose should probably be based on a little testing.
John Clark
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