Anyone processing chromogenic b&w in b&w developers?

[nsouto]

You know, like the folks who are souping Reala in b&w recipes and getting quite reasonable results, I'm just thinking:

-given that Reala is C-41 and chromogenic b&w is also C-41, why couldn't someone process say Kodak bwc400n in xtol or ddx?

Anyone tried this, if so please share?

 

[Vaughn]

Our students occasionally, and accidently, develop Kodak and Ilford C-41 B&W films in D-76. Generally they come to me and say "What is wrong with my negatives?" They can get prints, but never very good. I am not saying that it is not possible to get good negs -- but not trying to develop them as if the film is T-max400.

Vaughn

 

[AgX]

In principle chromogenic films may have got features related to coupler technology, aside from any colour issue, that you could not take advantage of by processing with a non-chromogenic developer.

The chromogenic films are designed to yield a good response due to dye forming. Processing just for the silver will not neccessarily yield the same results.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I've tried shooting Fuji Superia and then developing in Xtol, and unless you're scanning the negatives, the film base color was pretty much impossible to print through without ridiculously long exposure times.
With its blue / purple film base, I'd imagine XP2 could be better in this respect, but the question arises - why? Unless you like a challenge, of course (like I did with the above experiment - and boy is it a challenge to print).
Just my two cents.
- Thomas

 

[mrtoml]

Diafine can be used for XP2 (it actually lists the ISO speed for XP2 in the instructions). The results are OK, but not spectacular and you have very little control over the process.

 

[nsouto]

but the question arises - why?

I guess I'd say the pure thought stimulation?

Narh,just following a train of thought. Yes, I can see where it'd be hard to print although likely possible to scan.

AgX I think hit the nail in the head, though: b&w traditional development goes for the silver while C-41 goes for dye formation, so things might get seriously out of whack...

 

[Venchka]

OR, you have 50-70 rolls of 120/220 C-41 film in the fridge and the cost of color developing is prohibitive and you use the C-41 film in B&W chemistry in the interest of learning/experimenting/creating something different.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Now that's a good reason!

When I tried to use Fuji Superia, however, I got negs that are so dense with the red film base, that I had to expose the print with the enlarging lens set wide open at f/2.8 for about 10 minutes to get a decent print. That's after I flashed the paper. To me that's simply not useful. But different films might work different ways, and I only tried one so far.

- Thomas

 

[gainer]

It is possible in the interest of maximizing film speed to develop in, say, Acufine, fix, bleach with bromide-ferricyanide to reform the silver bromide image, then use the color developer as intended. I don't have much use for the process, but I did try it once years ago.

 

[Aurum]

If you look on the Digitaltruth massive Dev List, it lists XP2 on there with IIRC D76/ID11.

From experience, C41 in standard devs works adequately, but not brilliantly.

Its good for maximising grain in the tests I've done, and the negs aren't brilliantly dense. The problem is printing the C41 films with the orange base onto B&W paper.
XP2 is better in this respect, as it doesn't have the colour mask