Building b&w mask for color negative film

[stevewillard]

Currently, I am using TMX 100 and HC110 for constructing my b&w mask. When properly washed, the film produces a reasonable neutral gray negative that will minimize any color shifts when sandwiched with a color negative.

I particular, I use 8x10 TMX 100 and cut it down to either 5x7 or 4x10. Unfortunately, TMX 100 is only now available in 4x5. So I am looking for another 8x10 b&w film/developer combination that will produce a neutral gray negative. It does not have to be perfectly neutral gray just as long as there is no evident cast. I can correct for any slight cast by adjusting the color head settings.

Does anyone know of such a combination of film and developer that will produce an approximate neutral gray negative?

 

[Mike Wilde]

Depending on what I am trying to mask, I do use ortho lith film and a very dilute D-23 type film developer with 1g/l of metol to give me neutral denisty unsharp masks for things like skies that are too dense. I find the ortho is not a huge problem, but you may.

 

[stevewillard]

Mike, correct me if I am wrong, but orthochromatic films produce darker reds than panchromatic films. This could be problematic with color negative film because of its reddish cast. I suspect that reddish cast would produce an orthochromatic mask that looks fogged.

 

[Erik L]

You might give fp4 a try. I have used it for ciba's with no casts I could notice. Fp4 is what is recommended by ilford in their Ciba masking manual and I do not see why it would not work for color negs. It is shame about tmax though.
Good luck
Erik