Originally Posted by
Bill Burk
I use D-76 1:1 with Kodak films but I think the ideas might be the same.
I develop to contrast, if you do Zone System, you would be finding N times.
As such every factor I alter is included in my results.
I make more than a gallon stock D-76 because I like to fill four quart bottles to the top. So off the bat my "stock" isn't like anyone else's.
I mix this stock 1:1 to develop film and I fill the tank and develop as many rolls of film will fit. For 4x5 I develop seven sheets in a tray of 16 ounces (8+8). That's one Grafmatic + a sensitometry sheet.
That's certainly less than 2 ounces stock for a 4x5 sheet.
My standard development time is 13:30 at 68-degrees F to achieve 0.62 contrast index.
I call that N.
I would recommend that you do Zone System tests, if that's your plan anyway, and find N.
That time to develop for N is what is likely to vary because you didn't give enough stock solution for each sheet.
I really believe one of the main reasons to recommend stock solution per sheet square inches is so that recommended development times can be published and relied-upon. I don't think a slight dilution change will significantly affect grain structure, speed, etc.
Once you decide to do your own development time testing, you can choose an arbitrary amount of stock solution per square inch, and then to keep your tests valid, be consistent.
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