Is there a way while processing my 4x5 sheets to that beautiful grain that I can get with my 35mm?
Is there a way while processing my 4x5 sheets to that beautiful grain that I can get with my 35mm?
Generalizations are made because they are Generally true...
Crop
Science is what we understand well enough to explain to a computer. Art is everything else we do.
--A=B by Petkovšek et. al.
This is new territory for me. I usually try to get grain out but to each his own...
I'd push process it. That usually can make a few boulders with smaller format films. The Massive Development Chart has Tri-X 320 exposed at ASA 2500 in stock Xtol for 11:45 @ 68. It lists HP5+ with Xtol stock for 13:00 to get ASA 1600 and 17:30 to get ASA 3200.
Playing around with lith film in different dilutions of Dektol and, since it is ortho, you can really go old school and develop by inspection and stop when it looks grainy enough for you.
I just gotta share this. I was looking to see if there was some guidance on making grainy 4x5 by someone who actually has done it and ran into this:
http://grubbasoftware.com/faq.html
For 50 beans, you can have some software that makes digital images look like black and white film stock. They work a whole bunch of electronic hoodoo on film and put the results into the software. You have your choice of film stock and, if they don't have what you want, they will brew it up for you. The first challenge will be "to locate about five rolls or twenty 4x5 sheets of unexposed film in good condition."- from the FAQ.
Whatda buncha weeners.
Crop.
Take a 35mm negative and print it to about 8x10. Copy the print with your 4x5 camera. Now you have a 4x5 negative to use for printing which has all the grain that was found in your 35mm negative.
The same beautiful grain is already there - you just need to make bigger prints in order to see it. Aside from the obvious (use a fast film with a developer that doesn't incorporate a solvent) you could try lith printing or even reticulation (although that isn't really the same type of 'grain') or enlarge a neutral grey 35mm neg onto a 4x5 sheet of film and sandwich when printing...
You can try to develop at higher temperatures.
HP5 can be surprisingly grainy if overdeveloped.
I found efke 50 to be super grainy developed in caffenol-c. That film I don't think is available.
Printing options can be useful too. Ilford art300 has sort of a sandy texture; not grainy but different and interesting. Some handcoating / alt process options add some texture or grittiness too.
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