Develop for sharpness and fine grain with FP4+

[rpagliari]

I'm interested about experimenting with the Ilford FP4+ (4x5 and 16x7).

I've found very different views on it, some say it is significantly grainier than tmax and ilford delta, some say it isn't. They obviously follow different developing techniques.

Could anyone recommend me a procedure for getting fine grain and the most sharpness out of it (possibly with ddx or rodinal developer)?

Thank you,

[Corran]

Pyrocat

[koraks]

Pyrocat

Agreed.

Also, FP4+ is significantly larger in grain than TMX or Delta100, but in sheet film, it'll be hard to see the grain anyway unless you enlarge to a rather phenomenal size. So who cares, I'd say.

[Michael Kadillak]

I recently processed some FP4+ in rolls and in 8x10 sheets with DDX and it produced excellent sharp negatives to my satisfaction. The 120 rolls I developed in a tank and I used the 1:4 and used regular inversion agitation method followed the guidelines from Ilford which were quite on the money. I tray developed some FP4+ 8x10 negatives in a tray i:4 as well and again it produced excellent negatives. I am assuming you are developing sheets so either tanks of trays would work well.

Not disagreeing with the pyrocat suggestion as I mix it 3.5 liters at a time and use it extensively. However experimentation should be quick and easy and there is nothing that meets these guidelines as efficiently as a concentrate developer 1:4 using the manufacturers recommended product line and DDX fits that billing.

[Pere Casals]

(possibly with ddx or rodinal developer)?

In LF you won't notice much sharpness effect from developer...


From Kodak, see Xtol balance of sharpness-grain


This is Xtol vs Rodinal for P3200, that exagerates the effect, but...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSvQh17SxkE


Also Xtol has very low toxicity and it is environmentally friendly.

[Jim Noel]

Pyrocat and keep all temps within 1 degree F, including wash.

[Bernice Loui]

Can have one or the other, mixed if both is expected.

Likely going to get !!!! for this, but if one moves up to 5x7 or 8x10 or larger film size, the issue of grain on print is greatly diminished for an enlarged print of not more than 4x. IMO, 4x5 is too small a film format for anything larger than 11x14 due to film grain -vs- developer -vs- print visual quality tradeoff. Going for a high acutance developer which over develops the edges of the film grains tends to produce an edge effect when printed causing the perception of greater definition. Never liked "fine grain" developers as they tend to mush out these edges resulting in a lack of edge definition.

Rodinal, HC-110 are traditional developers that are not fine grain but can produce results like this.
Or mix developers per Photo Lab Index or from this book Developing by C.J. Jacobson:
https://archive.org/details/Developi...hnique/page/n4

One of the prime advantages of sheet film for B&W is greatly reduced concern with visible grain in the finished print, this is why sheet film can work so
well for silver gelatin B&W prints. Again, IMO, 4x5 is too small a film format to fully exploit the advantages of what can be accomplished in B&W prints.

What works for B&W roll film might not transfer well to sheet film as they are different with different advantages, disadvantages and trade offs.


Bernice

I'm interested about experimenting with the Ilford FP4+ (4x5 and 16x7).

I've found very different views on it, some say it is significantly grainier than tmax and ilford delta, some say it isn't. They obviously follow different developing techniques.

Could anyone recommend me a procedure for getting fine grain and the most sharpness out of it (possibly with ddx or rodinal developer)?

Thank you,

[Corran]

Indeed.

Likely going to get !!!! for this, but if one moves up to 5x7 or 8x10 or larger film size, the issue of grain on print is greatly diminished for an enlarged print of not more than 4x. IMO, 4x5 is too small a film format for anything larger than 11x14 due to film grain -vs- developer -vs- print visual quality tradeoff.

When enlarging T-Max 100 4x5 negatives to 16x20 and 20x24, I have a hard time focusing the grain because it's almost invisible at 4-5x.

IMO, anything past 4x5 gives NO real benefit for enlargements - while also vastly increasing cost and complexity when it comes to the enlarger needs. The trade-offs between size of film and resolution loss due to further stopping down needed to get the same DOF makes it all come out mostly equal. Larger formats are best for contact printing.

[DarekP]

Indeed.
When enlarging T-Max 100 4x5 negatives to 16x20 and 20x24, I have a hard time focusing the grain because it's almost invisible at 4-5

I agree. I have develop T-Max 100 - (135 !!!) in Pyrocat HD. I have problems too with grain focusing by 12x16 inch (12 times enlarging)

[Andrew O'Neill]

Pyrocat-HD. Agitation 5 sec every minute. Bob's yur uncle.