How do you develop 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 sheet film?

blee1996

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Hi, I recently got a large format SLR using 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 sheet film. And I ordered some Shanghai GP3 film in that size.

Now the question is how to develop those sheet film. I have the following for 4x5 film:

- Mod54 reels for Paterson tanks
- Stearman SP-645 Max tank

But will the 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 film fit in? Or do you have suggestions for other darkroom tanks and reels (or taco method)?

Thanks in advance!
 

Dustin McAmera

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I have a couple of Combiplan tanks. The sheet holder can do quarter-plate (it adjusts to several sizes between 6.5x9 at the smallest to 4x5 at the largest). It holds six sheets.
The tank is slow to pour in or out, and I'm afraid of dropping and breaking it (but haven't yet). It's neither the easiest nor the hardest thing to load. It's not made any more; I bought one new ages ago, and another when I saw it used on ebay.

 

cliveh

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In a 10" X 8" tray.
 
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blee1996

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Thanks for all the suggestions. I also did some experiments myself, and here are my findings:

1) The Mod54 can actually handle 9x12 and 3 1/4 x 4 1/4, and this will be my first choice to try in Paterson tank

2) I found a combitank with adjustable grooves. I used to use it for 4x5 but never read the manual about the adjustable sheet size. Now I know. It has its own issues like mentioned by others but can process 12 sheets in one batch. This will be my second choice if I happen to have a lot of sheets to process, and I don't need too much agitation.

3) The Stearman SP-645 Max is custom built for 4x5 and cannot handle any smaller sheet film.
 

Sirius Glass

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cliveh said:
In a 10" X 8" tray.
Click to expand...

I recommend that you start with tray development and investigated the tanks when you are sure that you will use the camera enough to invest in more equipment.
 

Hunter_Compton

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Since I have a 3x4 Graflex RB and a cheap source of large format roll film I can cut down, I wanted a better developing tank option than what was available.

What I ended up doing was designing and printing my own insert for a 3 reel Paterson tank. It is based off the 1920s era Kodak film pack tank. It can hold up to 12 sheets of 3.25 x 4.25" film and will develop 12 sheets in 800ml or 28oz of developer which is a lot more economical than most of the hanger based tanks out there. Fluids can also be exchanged in daylight as with roll film, which is something that neither the original Kodak film pack tank nor the hanger based tanks can do.



Now the film does have to be flexed like a taco and then inserted. I primarily use cut down aerial roll film which has a thin base and this isn't a problem. I have not tried developing proper sheet film with a 7 mil thick base but I have tried some old light struck film as seen in the image above and it does fit, albeit a bit snug. Dimensions can't be increased any further due to size restrictions of the Paterson tank.
 
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blee1996

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That is an ingenious design! Are you open to share the design? I happen to have a 3D printer as well, but have never attempted anything this tall.
 

BAC1967

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I use a Yankee Agitank for my developing. Make sure the Shanghai film fits your holders, I got some from them and had to trim a small amount from every sheet.

film-size-problem
 

Hunter_Compton

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blee1996 said:
That is an ingenious design! Are you open to share the design? I happen to have a 3D printer as well, but have never attempted anything this tall.
Click to expand...

As long as you're using it for personal non-commercial reasons I'd be happy to share the design.

3x4 Sheet Film Insert for 3 Reel Paterson Tank by Hcompton79

I made this sheet film developing holder based off the 1920s era Kodak film pack tank. This sheet film insert goes in a 3 reel Paterson tank and allows you to develop up to 12 sheets of 3.25 x 4.25" film in 800ml or 28oz of developer which is a lot more economical than most of the hanger based...
www.thingiverse.com

If your printer isn't up to the task, I could potentially print you one, provided you reimburse me for the material cost and shipping.
 
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blee1996

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Thank you for sharing the design! I will not use it for commercial purpose.

Let me try my MOD54 first, which can do 6 sheets. And if my needs increase, I will contact you again for help me printing one.
 

Donald Qualls

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If/when I ever get a 3x4 camera, I'll use my Yankee Agitank. I'd like to know, however, from anyone who has tried it, whether I can process 9x12 in the Agitank. I don't shoot that size much, but if I had an easy way to process it I might buy/shoot more. It's fun taking out a camera that's almost a century old. I see above that 9x12 will stay in place in a Mod54, and I recently got one of those, so I guess I have options.

I tried tray developing when I was starting out with 4x5, and scratched hell out of a negative in the first stack of four. "Do one at a time" I hear -- sure, I really enjoy standing in total darkness for an hour or more to process four sheets...
 

Hunter_Compton

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koraks said:
Does your design give consistent development all across the film? I can see how this would be a problem. The flow pattern along the edges is likely to be quite uneven.
Click to expand...

In my experience it’s been perfectly fine, no uneven development. Bear in mind it’s only for submerged development not rotary, so unless you’re using very short development times where fill and drain related times matter, I’m not sure how flow pattern would matter.
 
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blee1996

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BAC1967 said:
I use a Yankee Agitank for my developing. Make sure the Shanghai film fits your holders, I got some from them and had to trim a small amount from every sheet.

film-size-problem
Click to expand...

Thanks! I saw your thread a few days ago, and praying the upcoming GP3 will fit my holders.

On the other hand, the MOD54 has quite a lot of tolerance to sheet film size and I won't worry about it. It basically handles 4x5, 9x12, 3 1/4 x 4 1/4. Since it is B&W and I don't do violent agitation in the Paterson tank, I think even the smaller 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 sheets will stay put.
 

Donald Qualls

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blee1996 said:
It basically handles 4x5, 9x12, 3 1/4 x 4 1/4.
Click to expand...

Nice. Now I just need a solution for 2x3 that doesn't cost an arm and a leg or require me to load that huge Agitank rack with that dinky film. Might be time to wake up the 3D printer and make a taco tank insert like the 3x4 one above...
 

Hunter_Compton

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Donald Qualls said:
Nice. Now I just need a solution for 2x3 that doesn't cost an arm and a leg or require me to load that huge Agitank rack with that dinky film. Might be time to wake up the 3D printer and make a taco tank insert like the 3x4 one above...
Click to expand...

The one I made will handle 2x3 as well, it just goes with the long edge parallel to the bottom rather than the short edge with 3x4. The design could even be shortened if desired for only 2x3, but then it would fit in a 2 reel Paterson tank.
 

baachitraka

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blee1996

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A little off-topic, but my next plan is to add a 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 to 4x5 back adapter. So I can use any film emulsion I want in 4x5, in a slightly cropped 4x4 square format. Talking about giant instagram with the Graflex RB! The reason I wanted to go this route is because the 3x4 Graflex is quite a bit smaller and lighter than 4x5 version.

3x4 Graflex SLR to 4x5 conversion kit by acornelissen | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Replaces the 3x4 back on your Graflex SLR with a 4x5 back. | Download free 3D printable STL models
www.printables.com
 
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