Xtol and Contrast Development

**Jason24401** · 30-Jul-2006, 00:50

I've searched all over the internet, as well as this forum, and I cannot find any info on development times for Xtol as far as N-2, N-1, N, N+1, N+2 using Tmax 400. I will be doing my own testing and making adjustments, but it would be nice to have a starting reference. Anybody have any data or can point me to some source of information?

Thanks,

Jason

**Ed Richards** · 30-Jul-2006, 05:22

http://www.butzi.net/articles/tuning1.htm

Paul works in the Pacific Northwest, so he uses N+ mostly, but his N- times are a good starting point. I work in hard light, so I mostly use shorter times across the board.

**Henry Ambrose** · 30-Jul-2006, 07:14

Jason,
Kodak has data sheets in .pdf format for Xtol on their website. Those publications have detailed information on Xtol use. Otherwise I'd say 20% cut in time for each stop of additional exposure.

**jim kitchen** · 30-Jul-2006, 07:30

Dear Jason,

Another good source for starting times might be here

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hmpi/index.html

Look under Miscellaneous, TMax 400...

I tried these times, and I found the published times to be a good starting point, too.

jim k

**Ralph W. Lambrecht** · 30-Jul-2006, 10:45

Originally Posted by Jason24401

I've searched all over the internet, as well as this forum, and I cannot find any info on development times for Xtol as far as N-2, N-1, N, N+1, N+2 using Tmax 400. I will be doing my own testing and making adjustments, but it would be nice to have a starting reference. Anybody have any data or can point me to some source of information?

Thanks,

Jason

Jason

You don't need much of a reference point. Just develop a step-tablet exposure at 4, 5.5, 8, 11 and 16 minutes, and you'll get all the info you need from that. Check out Phil Davis' 'Beyond the Zone System' for details.