Double X Findings/Comparisons/Opinions

Bill Burk said:

If the time under blue is longer than time under green you are printing relatively high contrast, which would make sense.

5222 needs longer developing time in D-76 1:1 to reach ASA/ISO - in this case 15 minutes with better temperature control is hitting above and below standard

I don’t suggest trying for 0.62 CI but even here 0.45 CI is lower than I would like.

(The partial high curve is from a cut-off strip that was on outer edge of spiral. The lower curve was also cut off but developed inside the spiral)

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For ordinary agitation - say once every 30 seconds or so - I expose anywhere from 1/3 to 1 stop slower than box speeds. I do not see a huge Hard-to-Soft exposure ratio for the overall image. Of course, I vary that ratio all over the place to tune local contrast.

If I am doing Extreme Minimal Agitation I expose 1/3 stop slower (EI 200). For semistand, I expose at full box speed of EI 250. Both in neither of those cases am I using D-76. I am using either highly dilute Pyrocat-HD(C) or D-23. In these cases, I am leaving the film in the developer of choice anywhere from 28-60mins respectively. The dilution manages the highlights, the long development time gives me shadow speed.

Obviously, all this depends on how you print, how you visualize a scene, but for "normal" use an EI of 160 or 200 and 7.5 ish minutes in D-76 1+1 gives me very fine grain, good sharpness (well as good as the film is going to give you, I guess), and well managed highlights with good shadow control.