Developer for big Articulated Grain

jd callow

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Good Day,
I have resigned my self to shooting B&W and doing contacts for the near future. My interest is in printing to Gel Silver papers with 4x5 negs and I want to be able to see the grain in the prints.

Dektol 1:5 or 1:10 has been recommended. Does anyone have any other suggestions. Reticulation is also a possibility, but I'd prefer to use exposure and developer to achieve my aims. the film I will be using is TX and SXX.

Thanks a boatload in advance.

jdc
 

David A. Goldfarb

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Dektol is a good choice. For reticulation try using an acid stop significantly warmer than the developer.
 

Ian Grant

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just use D163 for your negs, back in my youth a probably well meaning young girl sold me this wonderful Universal developer, she was only reading off the packet.

The grain was amazingly large, the negatives were tonal, but I'd just borrowed and swapped my 35mm camera for a 120 Yashica for a long weekend expected no grain and a new quality

Ian
 

donbga

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I agree with David, Dektol will produce copious amounts of distinct grain. According to Ron Mowrey, aka Photo Engineer using C-41 fixer will reticulate film.
 

removed account4

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dektol sometimes gives giant grain,
but sometimes it doesn't ...

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

i get nice pronounced grain, using ansco 130 - 1oz undilute - mixed with 16oz of caffenol c. it will stain your film, crackle it and give it a funky smell too. i haven't done it with anything besides ansco 130, but it might do something similar with dektol.

good luck!

john
 

pgomena

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The first time I tried PMK, my wash water temp went up over 80F while I was out of the room and it reticulated the film. This won't answer the grain question, but if you want reticulation, try this.

Peter Gomena
 

nworth

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Rodinal is noted for big grain while keeping excellent image sharpness, but it may not be quite what you want. Dektol also gives grain, but with high contrast. DK-60a gives similar grain with a bit less contrast.
 

timeUnit

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How about trying a monobath developer. I've heard stories about golfball grain. Or was it hockey pucks?
 

percepts

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if I read your post correctly, you want to do 4x5 contact prints and be able to see the grain. Is that correct because if it is I think you will be setting some kind of record for grain size if you achieve it.
 
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jd callow

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well if not see than have it be as large as possible.
 
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