Exposure scale TMAX 400 in Pyrocat HD

[FerruB]

Hello everyone,

Until now I used D-76 only and most of the time I was very happy with straight enlargment on Ilford FB VC. Recently I end up playing with Pyrocat HD and I wanted to better understand this developer on TMAX400 and TriX400.

Reading Vestal book about enlarging "The art of black and white enlarging" (very interesting book!) I tried the exposure scale method he mentions. I exposed four rolls of TMAX400 @EI400 and developed three in 1+1+100 Pyrocat HD for 7.5, 15 and 30 minutes (minimal agitation, 60 seconds continue and then 10 seconds every 3 minutes).

So far I scanned the TMAX rolls, each picture on the rolls is 1 stop apart, starting from the most exposed (+4 stops, EI=50) to the least (-4 stops, EI=6400). The fifth is the exposed at box speed (EI=400).

TMAX 400 developed for 7.5 minutes:

TMAX 400 developed for 15 minutes:

TMAX 400 developed for 30 minutes:

If you had to adjust development time how many minutes will you make for the 4th roll I still have to develop?
If you had to take one picture at which EI will you expose the film?

Cheers,
Ferru

PS.I will print this on Saturday in the darkroom to see them in real life...and if you are interested I will post the same for TriX, still have to scan it.

 

[LarsAC]

Is this in front of an even light source? Shadows in the (fifth) box speed picture look lighter than in the fourth which I had not expected.

Otherwise some EI between 200-400 would look ok to me at 15mins. Rest looks like fine tuning, not knowing what you tuned after scanning, though.

Lars

 

[FerruB]

Hi Lars,

No, they are not in front of an even light source. White and black points and the contrast of the images I posted is adjusted after scanning, according to my personal taste. Vestal in the book suggests to print all the pictures as good as you can and after pick up the one you prefer. Evaluate the shadows and highlights to adjust development time and EI accordingly. (I am aware that digital elaboration can't "simulate" enlarging...is just to get the first feeling...I will not enlarge all the 27 images)

I made this test because previously using 15 minute at 400EI gave me flat/empty prints and I was not sure the problem was under-development or under-exposure (suspecting it was both...).

So far I think something around 20 min and EI200 could be the best compromise.

PS.here are the untouched-no clipping images.
7.5 min

15min

30min

 

[Austin_Jessup]

Thanks for sharing results so far! I'm very interested to see darkroom prints and to read a little about what methods you use to print the negatives on the far ends of your test spectrum.

 

[gary in nj]

I've been using D-76 for...well...forever. I love the contrast you achieved, but I'm not sure how you got there. Looking at development times for Pyrocat HD 1+1+100 suggests a time of 10 minutes at 70F. How were you able to go 3x that period without overdeveloping the negatives?

 

[LarsAC]

OP mentioned minimal agitation for the 30min batch.

Lars

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

TMY-2 Pyrocat-HD 1+1+100 21C 15:30 Agitation constant for first 30sec; 5sec every 3 minutes. Excellent tonalities and edge effects.

Downtown Greenwood

• Andrew O'Neill
• Apr 25, 2016
• 4

 

[FerruB]

That's correct, I used minimal agitation for all the rolls: initial 2 minutes continue and then 10 seconds every 3 minutes. Probably due to this procedure and despite 5 minutes presoak you can notice what I suppose to be bromide drag in the sky (not clouds). 10 minutes is a good starting point for a more frequent agitation.

While waiting for the darkroom here are the TriX400 scans, no clipping, same process as the TMAX. I didn't compare the images yet...but the results seem to be interesting.

Cheers,
Ferru

7.5min

15min

30min

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Yes, it looks like bromide drag. To avoid that, I found that pulling the film out of the tube (BTZS tube filled to the top with developer), and reinserting in upside down, works. If you have a darkened room, you could do this with your film reel. Still a risky procedure, though. I tend to stick to 5 sec every minute.
I sometimes use an even more dilute Pyrocat-HD solution. 1+1+200. Longer dev time of course, but with wicked edge effects. (really have to watch out for bromide drag!)

 

[FerruB]

Hi Andrew,
great tonality! Which exposure did you use?
Cheers

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I can't remember the actual exposure, but EI was 250. Wratten #8 filter. That film and that developer work very well together. I just wish I could afford that film these days! Cheers!

andy

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

...and it was shot on 8x10 film.

 

[FerruB]

I didn't forget...simply way to busy to even enter the darkroom

I noticed that the TriX negatives are much much more dense/stained compared to the Tmax negatives (I will post a picture of the negatives, can be interesting). Is this due to the thicker emulsion of the TriX? Do you know where I can find the thickness of different film emulsions?

Cheers,
Ferru