HP5 + D-19 = Good Combo For Carbon Transfer

I've been using large format HP5 for decades, but it's never been a good candidate for Carbon Transfer printing, due to a build up of min densities (and base + fog) from extended development times (in conventional developers), in order to meet a required density range. Decided to try it with a high contrast developer, like D-19...

That negative looked really clean for sure! And 2.5-ish density range is ample esp. for dichromate carbon.

koraks said:

That negative looked really clean for sure! And 2.5-ish density range is ample esp. for dichromate carbon.

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Yup! I'm very pleased about this. Now I can use my HP5 directly for Carbon, instead of always having to scan it in to make a digi-neg.

Andrew O'Neill said:

I've been using large format HP5 for decades, but it's never been a good candidate for Carbon Transfer printing, due to a build up of min densities (and base + fog) from extended development times (in conventional developers), in order to meet a required density range. Decided to try it with a high contrast developer, like D-19...

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Excellent!! I happen to have a few boxes of 11x14 HP5+ I have not been using since I have some of my usual FP4+ . I’ve been saving the HP5 for some other projects not needing the contrast range of my carbon printing.

Looks like it would be worth exploring using HP5 down the line…I have thought of D-19, but would give my go-to developer a try first…Ilford PQ Universal Developer. Might work best with scenes already high in SBR and at lower dilution (quicker dev might keep down base fog).

I have used straight Dektol to increase contrast once or twice- worked nicely…I’d have to do some research to see which Ilford 8 x 10 film that was on.

Vaughn said:

I have thought of D-19, but would give my go-to developer a try first…Ilford PQ Universal Developer.

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Ilford claim Phenisol as their D-19 equivalent.

Lachlan Young said:

Ilford claim Phenisol as their D-19 equivalent.

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Thanks…I am not familiar with it and will keep it in mind. FP4+ cooked in PQ Universal seems to allow the mid tones to expand nicely along with the highlights (no hard data to go with that claim). I’ll just have to see how HP5+ behaves. This is for platinum printing and carbon printing.

A recently developed 4x5 from my Japan trip…FP4+ developed in Ilford Universal PQ Developer, 1:15, 74F, 10 minutes in drum. There was 6 stops of light in the scene. Printable, no highlights totally blocked up… just on the edges I should be able to coax the most out of the negative ( an old outhouse along an abandoned temple path, Onomichi, Japan.)

I reduced development a little for the next set of negatives.

Vaughn said:

Thanks…I am not familiar with it and will keep it in mind. FP4+ cooked in PQ Universal seems to allow the mid tones to expand nicely along with the highlights (no hard data to go with that claim). I’ll just have to see how HP5+ behaves. This is for platinum printing and carbon printing.

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Vaughn, what dilution are you using the PQ Universal at with FP4?