A problem with Panalure

[mkillmer]

I have recently bought a NOS box of panalure for shooting as a paper negative. It arrived unopened, so everything seemed fine.
I shot the film at ISO 5.
Problems came when I processed the film.
Being panalure, I've developed the paper in a rotary Jobo tank.
All film loading was done in a darkroom.
I have been using paRodinal 1+50 + 10ml/L 1% Benzotriazole sln for my paper negatives (3 minutes dev @ 20C) - this is fine for my other papers - Ilford MGIV, Kodak Polycontrast etc..

Unfortunately, my negatives have been coming out black! The border of the 8x10 holder is black, but I can see an image in the paper, so I bellieve my exposure is OK.
At first I thought over development and lowered the development time to 1 minute. This resulted in a grey underdeveloped paper.
I use paRodinal because I like the contrast control I get using it.
I dont think the problem is the age of the paper - I often use expired paper - this is not that type of fault.
Do I need to use a different developer with panalure?

 

[Ian Grant]

It's not very fresh by now and may well have deteriorated to a point where it's not usable. You need to test the paper to see if it's OK.

Some papers like Ilfobrom, Kodabrom (Kodak Bromide, Brovira keep very well and just get slightly softer and slower, others like warmtone papers particularly modern types with no cadmium don't keep as long, they fog and ther can be other problems (I've had paper base going slamon pink). Speciality papers like Panalure have even shoter shlef lives. I have a box that I was given about 10 years ago and it was already a few years old then, as soon as I get my new darkroom operational I'll test it.

Ian

 

[Ricus.stormfire]

All film loading was done in a darkroom.

In total darkness or under safelight? I have noticed Panalure hates "normal" safelighting, and will turn black (it used a different safelight than normal papers IIRC)
Have you tried loading in complete darkness, if so....well just ignore this. Don't expect anything smooth though, as Ian said, this paper goes off pretty quickly, and even if it doesn't turn black, you'll get very splotchy and low contrast images.

 

[Rick A]

Panalure paper is panchromatic and must be handled in total darkness or under the same safelight used for RA4 color paper.

 

[Konical]

Good Morning, Mkillmer,

My recollection is that Panalure, compared to ordinary papers, was very, very fast. Are the visible images too light or too dark? I also agree with the comments above about Panalure's tendency to deteriorate fairly rapidly; I'd have serious doubts about the usability of any still-existing Panalure.

Konical

 

[Roger Cole]

Panalure can be handled under a sodium-vapor or RA4 safe LED safelight or the very dark RA4 conventional safelights. I used to use it a fair amount. I have some I bought a year or two ago that I've frozen since, though I'm not sure if it's good. I need to break it out and start using it.

Anyway, other than the above I've no idea. I've never shot it as a paper negative (and won't - it's too valuable to me for printing from color negs.)

(And you keep mixing the word "film" in - I take it you are consistently talking only about the Panalure, not about film?) Most film developers are less active than paper developers and if anything I'd expect underdevelopment and flat contrast, not black.

I'd try it under the enlarger, no safelight, with paper developer and see what it does.

 

[mkillmer]

Panalure can be handled under a sodium-vapor or RA4 safe LED safelight or the very dark RA4 conventional safelights.
...
I'd try it under the enlarger, no safelight, with paper developer and see what it does.

Thanks for the suggestions.
I only handled the paperin total darkness. I'll try with paper developer and see what happens.