How's AdoXTOL coming along, Team Adox?

m00dawg said:

You're welcome!

I'll be developing some test sheets tonight with a direct A/B comparison end to end (using sheets shot in camera of an actual subject instead of just a test wedge) between XT-3 and ID-11 1:1. Very curious how they'll turn out since the above conclusions were based on negatives I developed earlier in the year and there's definitely a chance there's something else wrong with my process that I can only see when doing a complete developing run that I didn't see when doing isolated tests.

So there's still a chance I'm doing something wrong But either way, I think XT-3 with replenishment definitely shows promise.

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Hi m00dawg,

I checked your website and I noticed you are using a lot of Fomapan 200. In my experience, Fomapan 200 has a very soft emulsion. I too had a similar problem many years ago and, in my case, it was the fixer. At that point in time, I was using an alkaline fixer which most likely softened the emulsion too much. May I ask what fixer do you use?

Best,
W.S.

Be sure to look at the other thread -- looks like this isn't done yet after all...

Oooooh that's a good point about Fomapan 200. I use that film as my one shot per week film (where I shoot 1 LF shot per week of something new using the same camera, lens, film). And indeed I do use an alkaline fixer I believe (TF-5). So yep that makes a lot of sense! Interestingly, my recent FP4 sheets came out *horrible* with my wash water. That includes issues with the emulsion but I think Ilford's base must be softer than other manufacturer's. I'm still chasing down occasional lateral scratches on Ilford sheets that I don't get from any other brand (CHS ii in particular seems to have a really nice base).

But back to Foma, yeah I should try using something like IRF next time. I use TF-5 because it's fast, reliable, and helps remove those stains on T-Max style films. I use it in two bath since I do find it falls off very quickly once exhausted. But I have IRF on hand for paper (I prefer its order over TF-5 which smells like a nasty cat litter box )

m00dawg said:

But back to Foma, yeah I should try using something like IRF next time. I use TF-5 because it's fast, reliable, and helps remove those stains on T-Max style films. I use it in two bath since I do find it falls off very quickly once exhausted. But I have IRF on hand for paper (I prefer its order over TF-5 which smells like a nasty cat litter box )

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Getting rid of the T-Max pinkish stain was also my reason to use alkaline fixer. However, the same effect can be achieved with a short bath of Kodak Hypo Clearing Agent. I'm confident that your emulsion problems will be over when you'll switch to rapid fixer.

My XT-3 is working fine but I've noticed that the stock solution gets a bit brown color when in bottle that has air in it. I have other 100% topped bottles from same batch without any color. I've mixed XT-3 to DI water. So I assume this has something to do with being contact with air.

The brown'ish solution is working fine, I think. I haven't noticed any dramatic change in densities so far..

Just a note so if you experience this you shouldn't be that worried