Cross process: lower temp to lower contrast?

timeUnit

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Hi!

I'm shooting Sensia 400 and developing in Tetenal ColorTec C41 kit. The kit seems to be aimed at rotary processing, but I'm using ordinary plastic tanks and 5sec/30sec agitation, and therefore I'm extending the developing time to 4 minutes, instead of 3 min 15 sec.

Now, I'm getting a lot of contrast, and I'd really like to keep that down. The kit is to be used at 38°C, but the manual says it's OK to use at 30°C, with extended times. Could I use 36°C at 4 minutes to get less contrast? I will try, but it would be nice with a few pointers.

TIA,
Henning
 

Photo Engineer

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I have no idea with that kit, but lower temperatures and shorter times usually increase crossover, especially by lowering cyan contrast.

The E6 film was designed for high contrast so it is difficult. Kodak recommended the use of 1.5 g/l of citrazinic acid / liter of developer to lower contrast more uniformly.

PE
 
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timeUnit

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PE,

I was guessing something like that. Thanks for the tip! I don't have access to citrazinic acid, though.

I'll try to lower the temp and see what happens. After all, it is cross process so everything will be whacky anyway.
 

bob100684

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use the 3:15 C-41 is designed for that time. I've done it at my drug store in a film proscessor which would agitate the chemicals in a similar manner to the jobo ie continuously, and in a plastic tank using the every 30 seconds meathod..stick to 3:15
 
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timeUnit

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I did 4:15 at around 35°C and the negs look OK. Still quite contrasty, but I think I can handle it. Only gripe is that the stabilizer foams like crazy! I HAVE to wipe the negs carefully with a damp sponge or I get lots of drying marks. But WTH, it's cross process: I'm just riding along!
 

jd callow

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I've had luck over exposing and under developing as a way of lowering the contrast of some chromes.
 

Nick Zentena

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timeUnit said:
IOnly gripe is that the stabilizer foams like crazy! I HAVE to wipe the negs carefully with a damp sponge or I get lots of drying marks. But WTH, it's cross process: I'm just riding along!
Click to expand...

How are you using the stabilizer? I use it's own tank and dip the film into it.
 

jd callow

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Nick Zentena said:
How are you using the stabilizer? I use it's own tank and dip the film into it.
Click to expand...

If you agitate when its in stabilizer you get foam. Simply dunk the film and make sure that there are no bubbles for 2mins.
 
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timeUnit

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It foams as I'm pouring the stab into the tank (I'm using the same tank: don't have more of them!). I'll try to minimize foaming next time by pouring more carefully. No agitation as well. Thanks.
 
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