Uneven Development -- 5X7's in Stearman Press 8X10 Tray

[Bertha DeCool]

"I developed two sheets in 1020ml of Rodinal (1:50)"

You can easily cut the amount of developer you used in half, Stearman recommends 500ml. I use Rodinal as well 500 ml to 10ml.

Glad it's working out better for you, in my situation it is the perfect solution. And they're really nice folks too.

[esearing]

If using dilute developers a good 2 minute initial gentle to moderate agitation takes care of most uneven development issues no matter what tank you use. A 5 minute prewash/soak also helps with Ilford films to remove the dye.

[otto.f]

If using dilute developers a good 2 minute initial gentle to moderate agitation takes care of most uneven development issues no matter what tank you use. A 5 minute prewash/soak also helps with Ilford films to remove the dye.

I do that with Pancro400 too, since I once saw what came off

[Gary L. Quay]

I've been having the same issues. I have a much smaller darkroom than I used to, so I had to part with my Jobo, and got a SP-810. I've had nothing but trouble with it so far: Uneven development, and negatives sliding under the hold-downs under the lid. That said, I've always had trouble with uneven skies. I used to agitate too quickly. I started agitating more gently, and I've been trying to get the right equipment, and find the right technique, and stick with it. I'm going to try a more random agitation. There's some good info in this thread.

[ChristopherMarv]

I've been having the same issues. I have a much smaller darkroom than I used to, so I had to part with my Jobo, and got a SP-810. I've had nothing but trouble with it so far: Uneven development, and negatives sliding under the hold-downs under the lid. That said, I've always had trouble with uneven skies. I used to agitate too quickly. I started agitating more gently, and I've been trying to get the right equipment, and find the right technique, and stick with it. I'm going to try a more random agitation. There's some good info in this thread.

Unfortunately, my original problem has recurred, even with the revised agitation technique. The sky seems to be a particularly problematic area. I've basically given up on the Stearman Press tray and will continue to try reels for Paterson tanks and the "taco" method. This is very discouraging. If you find something that works, let me know! Good luck.

[otto.f]

Unfortunately, my original problem has recurred, even with the revised agitation technique. The sky seems to be a particularly problematic area. I've basically given up on the Stearman Press tray and will continue to try reels for Paterson tanks and the "taco" method. This is very discouraging. If you find something that works, let me know! Good luck.

Thanks for sharing this!

[Nodda Duma]

Unfortunately, my original problem has recurred, even with the revised agitation technique. The sky seems to be a particularly problematic area. I've basically given up on the Stearman Press tray and will continue to try reels for Paterson tanks and the "taco" method. This is very discouraging. If you find something that works, let me know! Good luck.

Did you try picking it up *completely off the countertop* and rocking it around? This and 500ml of developer works for me with B&W, C-41, E-6, etc. It’s the same equipment as yours, so it’s fair to say it comes down to agitation.

[Michael R]

I can offer some personal experience based on a lot of testing I did a few years back on different sheet film processing methods. I was trying to determine which method(s) work best in relation to development uniformity.

Long story short, I found this type of development (ie horizontal in trays, and moving the tray for agitation) was bad, no matter what kind of setup, agitation method/frequency, type of tray, size of tray, dividers, no dividers etc. I would love for this method to work, and in “thought experiments” it seems like it should work, so it was both surprising and depressing, but no matter how many times I repeated the experiments the results were always the same.

If anyone is able to figure it out please let me know.

[md-photo]

I will second the "completely off the countertop". I do that agitation about 30s to start with and then 10-15s every 30s. I don't have 5X7 but I have set the SP-810 for 4X5. I have used it for both sheet film and dry plates in that size.

With sheet film the only issue I run into is the film on the far side from where I pour out ends up on top of the sheet closer to the spout. Probably each time I pour out each respective liquid the far sheet slides down with the angle. Despite that one issue, I have had more consistently even development in the 8X10 tray for the 4X5 sheets vs what I was seeing in the SP-445.

[ChristopherMarv]

Did you try picking it up *completely off the countertop* and rocking it around? This and 500ml of developer works for me with B&W, C-41, E-6, etc. It’s the same equipment as yours, so it’s fair to say it comes down to agitation.

Yes, unfortunately the agitation technique doesn’t seem to affect outcome.


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