developer for tmax 100 4x5 suited for N+ N- development

[monk]

Greetings Group!
i am planning to change developer on my tmax 100 film(since FINALLY im finished with the 20 liter of id-11 that i got as a gift.)
looking for a developer that would suit my zone system N+ N- developments.
fine grain,mid tones,contrast is always welcome..
any experience with tmax 100 with different developers?im sure there are plenty of you using this film.
please share your opinion!
many thanks!

 

[markbarendt]

OK,

Most any single bath developer should work fine for zone system adjustments including ID11 and any developer should be able to get negatives that print good mid-tone contrast so what do you want this new developer to do differently than ID11?

For example; finer grain or sharper image?

Did you find ID11 used at stock strength fine grain enough? Was it to soft looking?

Was ID11 mixed 1:3 sharp enough? Too grainy?

What printing problems are you trying to solve?

 

[monk]

OK,

Most any single bath developer should work fine for zone system adjustments including ID11 and any developer should be able to get negatives that print good mid-tone contrast so what do you want this new developer to do differently than ID11?

For example; finer grain or sharper image?

Did you find ID11 used at stock strength fine grain enough? Was it to soft looking?

Was ID11 mixed 1:3 sharp enough? Too grainy?

What printing problems are you trying to solve?

Greetings Mark!
i still have a backup of perceptol,but i cant really use that for N+ N++ cause it would increase grain,and thought to try something different.
im satisfied with tmax 100 all together,but with ID11,bit more contrast sometimes would be good( i couldnt get N++ out of it,selenium helped)
grain is not a problem with 4x5 for me with my enlargements till now,but im planning to make bigger enlargements,and some finer grain would be good too..
so all together,yes..some contrast,sharpness and finer grain would be good,
its not that bad with ID11,but i hope it could get better
Thanks!

 

[monk]

thought to give Microphen a try..going to get that anyhow,but maybe you guys would recommend something different too.
Thanks Everyone in advance!

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

Don't overlook Adox FX39.

http://www.adox.de/Photo/adox-film-developer/adox-fx-39/

 

[monk]

Mark,my printing problems in general,(not just with this film) are usually lack of contrast,and burned out highlights(but with tmax 100 thats not an issue mostly)..
i put last week selenium im my system and it works like a charm
microphen is known to help this,)lack contrast-burned highlights)thatswhy thought to give it a try

 

[ic-racer]

T-max developer works great if you rotary process.

 

[foen]

T-max developer works great if you rotary process.

It's is possible use t-max developer in Jobo ? Dilution for one-shot use and 75 degrees?

 

[monk]

T-max developer works great if you rotary process.

i do patterson spiral tank mod 54

 

[markbarendt]

Greetings Mark!
i still have a backup of perceptol,but i cant really use that for N+ N++ cause it would increase grain,and thought to try something different.

I would expect Perceptol to produce results finer than ID11 at similar contrast. Have you given this a real go yet?

As to plus development (more contrast) increasing apparent grain, that's not really a developer issue, that's just life with silver based negatives.

Staining developers try to minimize this effect by using not developing the silver as much and relying on the stain to carry some of the load with regard to building contrast. You may want to try something like Pyrocat HD or RolloPyro and see if that helps. These are typically very sharp developers too.

im satisfied with tmax 100 all together,but with ID11,bit more contrast sometimes would be good( i couldnt get N++ out of it,selenium helped)
grain is not a problem with 4x5 for me with my enlargements till now,but im planning to make bigger enlargements,and some finer grain would be good too..

Why couldn't you get plus with ID11? Was this judged at the print or with densitometer or...? Did you develop longer than for N+?

Contrast is a dance between developed film and the paper you are using to print. For example high gloss paper grade 2 will have darker blacks than grade 2 matte finish paper. That has a big effect on perceived contrast.

Even if you had trouble getting Tmax 100 to ++ changing to grade 3 from 2 should have solved that issue so I'm not understanding how switching film developers is going to fix your print contrast problem. Did a harder grade of paper fix the issue?

so all together,yes..some contrast,sharpness and finer grain would be good,
its not that bad with ID11,but i hope it could get better
Thanks!

I'm sure you can get better. These questions are here to help you look for the right things to fix.

For example sharpness and fine grain are characteristics in opposition. ID11 stock is somewhat solvent, which means the edges of the grains get smoothed a bit. ID11 1:3 is much less solvent because of the dilution so the edges don't get rounded off as much and that dilution produces a little sharper images but it looks slightly grainier.

 

[Alan Klein]

How is Xtol?

 

[markbarendt]

How is Xtol?

Great, especially replenished. IMO.

Some, but not huge differences from ID11/D76.

 

[monk]

Mark,
i tried perceptol with great results,but red that if i give longer development,the fine grain isnt so fine anymore.
you think perceptol would keep its loved fine grain if i do 20-30% longer development?i never dared to try,maybe i shouldalways
try first than ask..
no,no densitometer,just what i see on the print.nothing,not even grade 5 could get me out of this trouble.
i am a waist of air-waist of film person,but im working on it(the air cant be helped )
now im selenium experimenting,with great results,just would be better to have better negatives at the first place..

 

[markbarendt]

Yes, try Perceptol at longer times. Even longer than you mentioned.

Grade 5 what finish, glossy?

You may also have to burn and dodge.

 

[monk]

Yes, try Perceptol at longer times. Even longer than you mentioned.

Grade 5 what finish, glossy?

You may also have to burn and dodge.

Mark...
Thank You!
i Will,i will for Sure!have no idea why i waited for a green light from someone..
old ilford MGFB.5K matt,that can give the amount of difference i experience?

 

[markbarendt]

Mark...
Thank You!
i Will,i will for Sure!have no idea why i waited for a green light from someone..

Go wild monk, try everything, don't believe us, until you see it yourself.

old ilford MGFB.5K matt,that can give the amount of difference i experience?

Both the Matte finish and fiber base are making high contrast high sharpness work tougher for you.

My advice right now is for you to get some brand new high gloss RC paper and do a bit of printing before you try and fix film problems that may not exist.

 

[Bill Burk]

You could use D-76

I get enough contrast to be equivalent to N+3 on Grade 1 paper...

You just need to develop longer, somewhere around a half hour to an hour in stock solution...

 

[markbarendt]

You could use D-76

I get enough contrast to be equivalent to N+3 on Grade 1 paper...

You just need to develop longer, somewhere around a half hour to an hour in stock solution...

Dat's what I'm Talk'n bout, Bill's da man!

D76 and ID11 are near equivalents.

Monk this is proof that the film and developer can do what you want.

 

[monk]

You could use D-76

I get enough contrast to be equivalent to N+3 on Grade 1 paper...

You just need to develop longer, somewhere around a half hour to an hour in stock solution...

Bill...
You Rule!
Thank You!
i really appreciate you guys helping us here!
with all my questions Bill and Mark(among many other people) took the time and helped me!many Thanks!
may All you have the desired light you want!(not sure if i say it well,but you got it..)
i remember them,and their answers,but Thanks Everyone who takes the time here,and helps out-shares info
helping each other..that is the way.
Thanks Folks!
Good Light Everyone!

 

[Bill Burk]

may All you have the desired light you want!(not sure if i say it well,but you got it..)...
Good Light Everyone!

Thanks markbarendt and monk!

I recently read a quotable quote about light... something to the effect of "All we have is light, so if you can't feel light, you have no business being a photographer". I've been reading David Vestal and P. H. Emerson lately so it might have been one of them. If I come across it I'll post - I am sure it has more flavor and a more positive message than my botched paraphrase.

 

[Bill Burk]

Ah, I found the quote by David Vestal on The Online Photographer.

Thursday, 12 December 2013

David Vestal: A Wonderful Life

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2013/12/david-vestal-a-wonderful-life.html

"Everything in a photograph comes from light and is seen as light. I don't just mean that, technically, light makes the picture exist. I mean that light conveys all the feelings and all the information that makes the picture work. Light carries both data and expression.

"Any photographer who is not alive to light is in trouble."

—From "The Language of Light," by David Vestal, Invitation to Photography, Summer 1976