grain/contrast

[kcarey]

I have a very basic question regarding grain and contrast and wonder if anyone can give me a basic answer. I am not yet doing my own film developing consistantly and have to rely on my local lab quite often.

I have been shooting Trix rated at 1000 and asking my local lab to push it when developing. For a long time I have gotten consistantly good results from them in terms of contrast and grain. Increased contrast and grain as expected, due to the push processing, but something that I was pleased with overall. Recently, I have noticed that I am getting really blown out highlights and much more grain when shooting under the same lighting conditions as in the past. I am trying to learn why. I assume it haas something to do with the developing, but not sure what.

What aspects of developing the negs affects the contrast and the grain??

For instance...are they developing the film longer than needed or aggitating it more than usual or something else??? I want to be able to ask the lab to make an adjustment in the way they are processing the negs in order to get the results I want, but I am not sure what to ask them to do differently.

Any help appreciated. -Karen

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Karen, it could be anything almost. It could just be a different operator who agitates more than another. It could be that they are using a different developer which gives contrastier results. What you're experiencing is the reason most of us do all our own processing. It's all about control. You probably can't really guarantee that the lab will do it absolutely the same way every time, and that's what you really need.
Kevin

 

[Donald Miller]

Increased development time, increased agitation, and increased developer temperature would each have the effect of increasing contrast.

 

[kcarey]

Thank you both so much for the fast reply.
I thought I was on the right track, but wanted to be sure of the factors involved.

I knew that eventually, I would be pushed into developing all of my own negs---I guess no better time than now...

Thanks, Karen

 

[nick mulder]

I would hope the lab would be as helpful as the forums here, ask them also the same questions (;

 

[gnashings]

I know you are probably sick of hearing this - but taking it into your own hands is the only sure fire method. And it takes so little space and finances to do film - unlike printing.
I have just tried TriX at 1000 in Acufine... wow, what a wonderfilm. Too bad I have no desire to pay Kodak anymore. It is a contrasty combo, and as with any push, shadow detail suffers accordingly - but it looks great.
Do your own - then you and only you will be the source of all your answers. Everything else is guessing to some extent. Labs are motivated by business decisions - not your preferences. Your own darkroom is motivated by only what you want.