Article on Two-Bath Pyrocat

[sanking]

I would think that this method would be close to ideal for you in scanning your negatives and making tonal corrections in PS. And Jobo is similar to the method I use to develop sheet film with two-bath Pyrocat. I develop in print drums on a motor base, but the idea and results are very similar to Jobo. The way you work is similar to what I do.

Unfortunately Delta 100 is not a film I specifically tested, though I would think it would react much like Tmax-100 and Acros.

Sandy

[sanking]

Sandy,
Thanks for this. I have printed it, read it twice, and put it in my Pyrocat notebook.
I noted with interest that none of the beautiful images shown were developed with a dilution of 1+20. If using this method for Pt/Pd would you think it wise to use 1+10 as a starting point for negatives made of most scenes in similar light?

Jim,

Yes, 1+ 10 with 5+5 minutes of development should give enough contrast for Pt/Pd printing. However, if I were developing for Pt/Pd I would probably use the normal 2+2+100 dilution of Pyrocat with about 12-14 minutes of development.

Sandy

[sanking]

Wayne,

Two-bath D-23 works nicely, but two-bath Pyrocat negatives have higher acutance. Two-bath Pyrocat and Diafine give similar acutance, but I don't like using Diafine because it is a proprietary formula and since I don't know what is in there I have no way of understanding how to control the results.

Sandy

[Lenny Eiger]

Unfortunately Delta 100 is not a film I specifically tested, though I would think it would react much like Tmax-100 and Acros.
Sandy

Thanks, I'm gonna try this - this fall....

It's true that Delta reacts very much like TMax. In XTol is a very tiny bit sharper... imperceptible, but let's just say at least as good. I like helping Ilford out, so I went that way...

I'm wondering if you found any benefit in your tests of the Acros over the TMax... I see that it is almost double the cost ($2.85 per sheet vs $1.29-$1.39 for Delta), but as long as I'm going to test.... maybe I should include it... what's your thought on this?

Lenny

[David Karp]

Thanks Sandy.

[Steve Goldstein]

Thanks Sandy. I appreciate that nearly all your curves go up to CI of 0.6 so this article is also of use to optical printers.

[sanking]

"I'm wondering if you found any benefit in your tests of the Acros over the TMax... I see that it is almost double the cost ($2.85 per sheet vs $1.29-$1.39 for Delta), but as long as I'm going to test.... maybe I should include it... what's your thought on this?"

I prefer Acros to any other film because of its reciprocity characteristics. Otherwise it is pretty much a wash comparing Tmax-100, Acros and Delta 100. They are all really good films.

Sandy

[Steve Sherman]

Wonderful article Sandy, I especially enjoyed your imagery!

[Wayne Lambert]

Point taken.

Thanks,
Wayne

[Ed Bray]

Good article Sandy, as you know I have been a 2 bath Pyrocat HD/C convert for 18 months or so, suits me and I won't be changing from it anytime soon. I do have the occasional relapse to Caffenol CL though