Now that I have my 8x10 gas burst system working, I decided to see which developers work the best with it and Fuji HR-U x-ray film.
I think I still like 510 Pyro the best but the others I tested have their strong points.
510 Pyro
510 Pyro delivered the most middle-ground negative. It is contrasty but not overly so. The grain is sharp but not too sharp. It stains the negative, which I appreciate for my alternative process printing, and it tans the very delicate x-ray film. It is also one of the cheapest at $1.44/gallon at 1:100 dilution and has a fast development time of 6 minutes.
On the bad side, it was the most finicky. It required the most perfect agitation (I built a gas burst system) and modifications to my 8x10 hangers to avoid surge marks. At dilutions dilutions over 1:100 I saw both bromide drag and surge marks at the same time (too much and not enough agitation concurrently).
510 Pyro Negative (yellow stain):
510 Pyro Scan:
Face Detail:
Grain Detail:
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