Custom Film Testing - Part II

[Eric Jones]

So, I did a series of custom film tests using the following procedure:

1. Exposed 5 Sheets of Fuji Acros with a Stouffer 31-step wedge.
2. Developed in BTZS Tubes in Clayton F76+ (1+9) at 4,5.5,8,11,16 minutes respectively.
3. Read and hand plotted the resulting negs with a X-Rite 810 Densitometer.

The results produced the following Average Gradient assuming an ES of 1.2:

4 minutes - 0.60
5.5 minutes - 0.66
8 minutes - 0.92
11 minutes - 1.06
16 minutes - didn't bother to plot due to the high average gradients.

So, my question is should I cut the concentration of developer in half to say (1+19) to get some more reasonable average gradients for higher contrast scenes? Any help or direction would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Kirk Keyes]

Sure - do a dilution of the developer as you suggested. That will get you some lower gradients.