Factorial development and split-grade printing

[Sim2]

Hallo,

I am thinking about using factorial development as opposed to fixed development times however I have a question with regard to using this with slpit-grade printing.

So far as part of a film speed/dev test I have established a print time using grade 2 (multigrade) and noted the emergence time for the darkest black - chosen as it is most likely to be easiest to spot on most other negs. If this neg is to be printed using split-grade the filter 5 exposure is no problem with regard to times from factorial development. If this same time or the factorial development factor gained from the last completed neg/print is used for the filter 0 test print will this be accurate?

Not a very good expalnation I know but there will not be a "dark black" emergence on the filter 0 test strip.

Any thoughts? or have I totally confused with the question?

Sim2.

 

[Anon Ymous]

Just use the same time you'd find reasonable with a strip that has these dark tones and use this development time for any strip/print through the session. The development time will depend on some variables like temperature, the composition of the developer, its age/exhaustion etc... But keep in mind that different developers need different times to reveal the darkest tones and development rate isn't necessarily constant with all developers.

 

[ic-racer]

Most multigrade papers I have used in the last few years don't get much darker with extended development. Making it easy to develop to completion without needing the factorial development like Adams described.

My impression has always been that factorial development is more beneficial when controlling contrast with various paper developers using graded paper.

 

[Chuck_P]

Perhaps you should choose a middle value instead of black, IDK. I believe factorial development can also be used as a measure of developer strength also. I would think that as long as yo know the temp is remaining constant, then a change in emergence time could indicate a weakening of the developer, seems this would be applicable to MG papers as well.

 

[MattKing]

I don't know that factorial development will be much use for the low contrast test strip. Basically, I only use it to keep on top of developer activity as I proceed through a printing session.