8x10 Processing

Hello All, I'm about to process 8x10 film (delta 100) for the first time and was just wondering if theres any special things I should do differently from 4x5. I'm obviously going to be using more developer, but should I adjust my times at all? If it matters, I'm rating my film at 50, using pyrocat 2:2:100 and developing for a little bit over 8 minutes. I normally use 500ml of solution and planned on just doubling that..or maybe more if it didn't seem like enough.

Normally I would just experiment and see how things turned out but these negatives are pretty important and I really would rather not make any awful mistakes. Thanks in advance

-Dan

Trays? Jobo? Tubes?

Trays, with gentle continuous agitation. And I'll be doing 4 sheets at a time as opposed to my normal 6 with 4x5. Sorry about that.

I used to do 6 sheets in 1.5 liters of solution, so 1000ml for 4 sheets sounds about right. If you figure 1 sheet is about equivalent to 1 roll 35mm or 120, or 4 sheets 4x5, you should have plenty of developer. Depends also on what your printing process is. I think 2:2:100 is for Azo or other alternative processes. 1:1:100 is for regular gelatin silver.

I also would recommend making and developing a couple of test sheets before committing important film to the process.

Peter Gomena

I develop between 4-6 sheets of 8x10 in a 9x11 tray with Pyrocat-HD 2-2-100. Develop them all emultion side up. I do the shuffle process, where I use one hand to slightly lift the back of the stack out of the tray, grab the bottom film and slowly slide it out, making sure it stays straight with the others and the others corners do the stratch the surface of the one I'm pulling, then I gently use both hands to lay that film on top and push the whole stack down into the developer. Make sure the corner does not cut into the one your laying it down onto.

I do this continuously for the whole development time. At the halfway point I turn the whole stack 180 degrees.

I always wear latex gloves when doing this and only grab the film by the clear edges, not to put my fingers into the image area.

This process works best for me, but I'm sure you will get several other comments on peoples methods of tray development. Personally, I don't like to just lay them in there and agitate the tray around because the edges are usually over developed and scratches can happen if the tray is to large.

Regards,

Ryan McIntosh
www.RyanMcIntosh.net