Heading out to do some night photography....I want grain!!!

I'm going to be using Tri-x.
I'm working with microdol, d76, perceptol or DDX for developers.

I know that diluting the developer will naturally give me more grain.
But does anyone know which developer will give me more grain naturally.

Keep in mind that I don't want to gain too much contrast as that it's night photography.

Quick side note: Would Delta 3200 give me the same level grain at 800 if I diluted any of those developers?

You'll get plenty of grain with DDX or D-76 diluted, especially if you're pushing Tri-X to 800 or beyond.

And Delta 3200 at EI 800 will be plenty grainy, though it might not be more so than Tri-X at 800. I've only shot Delta 3200 at 1600, so I can't say for sure.

Why not just try it out? Are you down to your last roll of Tri-X or something?

MikeSeb said:

Why not just try it out? Are you down to your last roll of Tri-X or something?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.
And yeah more or less. Film is definitely not recession proof.

Tri-X pushed to 1600 in Rodinal 1:100 or even 1:50. Your'e gonna lose shadows so compose carefully but you will get plenty of nice grain.

If you want a lot of grain without too much contrast, the first step is to overexpose like mad. Add five or more stops *before* you consider reciprocity loss, which is fairly bad with Tri-X. Then, you want to give the minimum amount of development that you can, but do it with a "harsh" developer. I might try a dilute form of D-19 with a semi stand development. One Gal. of D-19 is good or 45 rolls of 120/135 or 180 sheets of 4x5. This means Kodak recommend a minimum of about 3 oz. stock D-19 per roll. I would quarter this amount to start: 3 oz. for four rolls, in as much water as it takes to fill the tank.

Rodinal or Acufine might be better choices, but I cannot say from experience; only from recommendation.

Stephen DiRado had excellent results with TMax 3200. In person these prints have sabre-tooth grain, but it really works.



You can see others on the Afterimage Gallery website.