Ilford XP2

Raghu Kuvempunagar · Jul 19, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
Compared to getting everything up to 38 C, it's not even significantly slower, and I can do something else for most of the stand time(s)

I agree. I too find it more convenient to bring the developer to 20C or use it at room temperature than heat it to 38C.

Donald Qualls said:
I've done XP-2 Super at room temp in Flexicolor, same 45 minute stand folks sometimes use for color negs. Works fine, normal seeming contrast, normal seeming speed. Combine with bleach bypass, highly recommended.

Good to know that it worked at room temperature. Definitely it's something I want to try if and when I manage to get hold of CD-4.

Donald Qualls · Jul 19, 2021

Raghu Kuvempunagar said:
Definitely it's something I want to try if and when I manage to get hold of CD-4.

No C-41 kits or minilab suppliers in India? I'd expect you to be in the Fuji-Hunt coverage region...

pentaxuser · Jul 19, 2021

Donald, just so I can be clear. You use C41 minus the bleach stage in a form of stand development for 45 mins at room temperature, how big can the range of temp be ( min 20C up to whatever the room temp is) ? What does the 45 mins stand part consist of?

If the user would rather use inversion agitation what does that do to the time period in terms of changing ?

I have checked back a few pages to see if you gave all the details I have asked for but admit I haven't gone back all the way to the start so apologies if you did cover this. In which case give me the # number and I''ll have a look

Thanks

pentaxuser

foc · Jul 19, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
(bleach needs to go longer at room temp, too, if you're using it).

And you can get some bleach activity problems if you go below 30C. Obviously, this doesn't matter if you are doing bleach bypass.

Donald Qualls · Jul 19, 2021

foc said:
And you can get some bleach activity problems if you go below 30C. Obviously, this doesn't matter if you are doing bleach bypass.

I've processed color film, with bleach, in room temperature stand, but (based on the YouTube video that suggested this) I gave the bleach the same amount of time as the developer: 45 minutes. Negatives came out fine in terms of clarity -- some possible crossover, though, and I haven't repeated the attempt with color (and with XP2 Super I almost always bleach bypass anyway).

pentaxuser · Jul 19, 2021

Donald, have you managed to look at my questions in #236, thanks?

pentaxuser

Raghu Kuvempunagar · Jul 20, 2021

pentaxuser said:
If the user would rather use inversion agitation what does that do to the time period in terms of changing ?

I would guess 15 minutes @20C or 10 minutes @25C would be a good start for XP2 Super when using C41 developer with inversion agitation if you intend to go on that path. This is assuming that the color developer works perfectly with XP2 at lower than recommended processing temperature. You'll know for sure only when you've tried it and I haven't. Not sure if Ilford recommends developing XP2 Super in color developer at either 20C or 25C.

Raghu Kuvempunagar · Jul 20, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
No C-41 kits or minilab suppliers in India? I'd expect you to be in the Fuji-Hunt coverage region...

1 liter kits are available but fairly expensive. Minilabs have mostly disappeared and the surviving ones use DIY C41 chemistry going by the results. And they won't disclose their CD-4 supplier for obvious reasons. India is a major manufacturer of chemicals but unfortunately CD-4 isn't available locally. I tried Alibaba but the price was too high for my liking.

Raghu Kuvempunagar · Jul 20, 2021

foc said:
And you can get some bleach activity problems if you go below 30C. Obviously, this doesn't matter if you are doing bleach bypass.

This could be an issue with Ferric Ammonium EDTA bleach. I've used the Ferricyanide based Kodak R-29 bleach in C41 processing and it worked fine at room temperature (~25C). This bleach has a replenisher which ensures that the activity level is maintained after repeated use.

foc · Jul 20, 2021

Raghu Kuvempunagar said:
This could be an issue with Ferric Ammonium EDTA bleach. I've used the Ferricyanide based Kodak R-29 bleach in C41 processing and it worked fine at room temperature (~25C). This bleach has a replenisher which ensures that the activity level is maintained after repeated use.

Thanks for that update, that's good to know.

foc · Jul 20, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
I gave the bleach the same amount of time as the developer: 45 minutes.

Thanks for that clarification. I was assuming it was a shorter bleach time.
I remember a good few years ago, the bleach heater in my minilab C41 processor failed and I hadn't a replacement at hand. (it would take 2 days to get one)
I rigged up a fish tank heater, made an adjustment to the bi-metal thermostat, and was able to maintain 30C until the replacement arrived.

Auer · Aug 15, 2021

Cinestill ECN2, Bleach Bypass, stock ISO.

City Frame 43 by Eric Auer, on Flickr

DelMarVa 5 by Eric Auer, on Flickr

Auer · Aug 16, 2021

Cinestill ECN2, Bleach Bypass, stock ISO.

City Frame-42 by Eric Auer, on Flickr

Ilford XP2

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