So I decided to try FP4 because of reading on here that it somewhat resembled TXP. I've now used up an entire box and have yet to process any of it. I'll be using a Jobo 3005 and would like to know which developer to use in regards to capacities and extended development times (9 minutes or more). I rated the film at box speed (125). Are there any of the Ilford developers that you guys think would work well? Thanks in advance.
For rotary processing I recommend D-76 (Ilford ID-11). May I also suggest that you download the FP4+ data sheet from the Ilford website. It has several other recommended developers along with development times and other interesting info....
I use Ilford PQ Universal Developer with that combination (FP4+ and the 3005), but I am after negatives that have a good amount of contrast for alt printing. I contact print -- Ilford's info does not recommended it for negs needing to be greatly enlarged.
It is a fairly active developer, so it might be difficult to get the development times up to 9 minutes unless you further dilute the developer (Why is that a factor for you? I get even development in the 3005 even at 4 or 5 minutes.)
Capacity at the normal 1:19 dilution for one liter (50ml of stock to 950ml of water) is 5 sheets of 8x10 film in the 3005. So that is 10ml of the PQ Universal developer per 8x10. Development times range from 4 minutes to 8 minutes. Capacities are usually a little under-stated and I have developed five sheets of 8x10 with the developer diluted down to 40ml:960ml, but when I get down to 30ml:970ml, I will often only put 4 sheets of 8x10 in the 3005.
I use D-76. It works just fine for me.
"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White
I use Xtol, lovely tones and cheap!
Same here, XTOL works really well, loads of shadow detail and easy negs to print.
Ok so Xtol seems like the one that will give box speed with FP4. Others have mentioned D76 which is what I was going to try, but does it give the full asa 125 of FP4. I've used Xtol with Tri-X and have found it to not give the smooth tonality I seek. I stupidly used an entire box of FP4 without doing real testing. I had my tri-x and HC110 down to where I wanted it. I do genuinely appreciate all the input and I'm honestly not trying to be lazy only hindered by time constraints.
How is XTOL for expanding the contrast of a negative? I need to expand the contrast for platinum printing and carbon printing -- far beyound the needs of silver printing.
Vaughn,
Having seen some of your work and your printing process, I think you would find Hypercat II very interesting, especially if you could be persuaded away from rotary processing. The sharpness is nothing short of phenomenal, and the stain allows for much higher contrast than non-staining developers can deliver. I think it's the ideal choice for high relief work.
Thanks, Jay -- I am thinking trying a pyro developer again (it has been many years). I was using Rollo Pyro, but back in the day when one was "suppose" to use a post development staining bath. All that did was up the printing times as it just increased the over-all stain,
It would be hard to give up the Jobo 3005! But I am sharing an 11x14 whose negs are tray processed. So we'll see.
Vaughn
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