acutance vs. shadow detail for scanning B&W?

[PhilBurton]

In one of the analog-only forums, I posted a question about developing really, really old Plus-X and Tri-X. This chart got my attention: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...-frozen-plus-x-and-tri-x.176021/#post-2292157

Since the other forum is strictly analog, I didn't think it was right to post a question about scanning. But I think this is the right forum. If no one developer is better than all others for both acutance and shadow detail, which factor is more important for scanning purposes. Assume that I will use Adobe Lighthroom (and maybe even Photoshop) to process the resulting TIFFs.

My scanner is a Nikon 5000 ED, with 4.8 dmax.

As always, thanks in advance for all advice. I am very happy to subscribe to this forum to help support it.

 

[Alan9940]

For me, the same factors that come into play to create a good negative for the darkroom are the same for scanning. I don't develop my film any different; same negative is used for wet prints as well as desktop printing.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Your scanner won't resolve the grain anyway so go with tonality/shadow detail. The only thing you need to avoid with the Nikon scanners is grossly over developed film.

 

[Les Sarile]

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...-frozen-plus-x-and-tri-x.176021/#post-2292157

If no one developer is better than all others for both acutance and shadow detail, which factor is more important for scanning purposes.

The acutance pointer moves less on that line then the pointer on the shadow detail. How much of those differences are even discernable by your scanner is not known.

 

[MattKing]

Scanning disrupts acutance anyways, so don't worry so much about that.
And old age adds fog and decreases contrast, so pulling out shadow detail will be a challenge no matter what.
Personally I would recommend X-Tol, but there is a temporary shortage.

 

[PhilBurton]

Scanning disrupts acutance anyways, so don't worry so much about that.
And old age adds fog and decreases contrast, so pulling out shadow detail will be a challenge no matter what.
Personally I would recommend X-Tol, but there is a temporary shortage.

Thank you all for your helpful comments. Truly.

@MattKing I was leaning towards Xtol and you just added some weight to that idea.

Why would there be an x-tol shortage now? Too many people stuck at home with extra time on their hands? Are there shortages now of other developers or B&W chemistry?

 

[MattKing]

From Kodak Alaris' website:

Update: COVID 19 Chemistry shipment delays; May 14, 2020

We are experiencing shipping delays on the products listed below.
KA operations is working as quickly as possible to resolve this.
Please check back on this page for updates.

1058296 1 Gal Professional DEKTOL Developer
1058304 1 Gal Professional Fixer
1058338 5L Professional XTOL Developer
5054184 2X25L TMAX Developer and Replenisher

 

[reddesert]

Companies are having difficulty staffing and running their factories safely. This has caused problems for Ilford, for example, and it's presumably affecting the companies that make chemicals for Kodak.

The Legacy EcoPro ascorbic acid film developer is reputedly a lot like Xtol. Freestyle has it in stock; Legacy EcoPro is apparently the outfit once known as Unicolor. I just used it, and I can't give you a direct comparison to Xtol, but it certainly works. You can use the same developing times as recommended for Xtol.

 

[PhilBurton]

Companies are having difficulty staffing and running their factories safely. This has caused problems for Ilford, for example, and it's presumably affecting the companies that make chemicals for Kodak.

The Legacy EcoPro ascorbic acid film developer is reputedly a lot like Xtol. Freestyle has it in stock; Legacy EcoPro is apparently the outfit once known as Unicolor. I just used it, and I can't give you a direct comparison to Xtol, but it certainly works. You can use the same developing times as recommended for Xtol.

Thanks. However, despite Covid, or maybe because of Covid, I have this big "backlog" of projects around the house. I probably won't start any film processing until early to mid-July. I guess I should put myself on the notification list at B&H Photo.