Kodak Mapping Film - CTM4

[JohnMilleker]

Does anyone have any experience with this stuff? I just started experimenting with a roll. It doesn't like D-76 (turns the sheet/silver red) but it likes Dektol. I'm getting decent results with a Dektol dilution of 1:5 and tray developing. A drop of Rodinal goes black as well but I haven't played with any dilutions yet. Fixing in a standard Kodak Fix/Hardener.

Here's the best of a bunch of test strips I made, extremely low contrast. I'm going to keep playing and see if I can beat more contrast out of it. If anyone has any thoughts on the stuff I'd love to hear them!


Film Test: Kodak CTM4 by JohnMilleker.com, on Flickr

 

[fschifano]

Have you read the tech pub for the product? That might be of some help. Find it here.

 

[JohnMilleker]

Thanks Frank, I have. Never messed with any of the recommended developers however. Kinda hacking into it by trial and error..

 

[Barry S]

How about trying a lith developer since they're designed to maximize film contrast curves?

 

[JohnMilleker]

I've never really messed with Lith chemicals Barry but I do have a box of 4x5 Lith film I'd love to play with. Guess I should give it a shot.. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Allen Friday]

I just ordered some of this for shooting in my truck camera. I will be experimenting with it in January. I will be shooting it as a negative and experimenting with different developers and dilutions for printing on silver, platinum and printout paper.

Keep us posted on your progress and I'll do likewise once I start playing with the film. The low contrast should make it good for negatives, as the general problem with films like Arista ortho lith is taming the extreme contrast.

Allen

 

[nworth]

Ultraline developer sounds like D-11 (probably much updated). RA-2000 brings up no references on the Kodak website, but from the datasheet it appears to have higher contrast than Dektol and probably lower than Ultraline. D-19 may be a good starting point. X-ray developers and high contrast developers like DuPont 9-D and 10-D are also a thought. I would stay away from the traditional litho developers that produce infectious development.

 

[fschifano]

You can try doctoring up some Dektol with some sodium carbonate, plain washing soda. That will increase the pH of the developer and possibly give you the extra contrast you're now lacking. Heck, it's cheap and easy enough to try, and it just might work.

 

[JohnMilleker]

Thanks Frank and Nworth. I gave Kodak D-19 a shot and am really much closer. I was hoping to get some sample test strips going this weekend but just didn't have the time. For kicks I threw D-19 1:1 at it and I see no difference after a minute of tray development. I may try different dilutions. I really want to see the contrast difference between normal strength Dektol.

Allen, my thoughts exactly on what I would use it for - I have a salt print project that I've been sweating over how to get the right sized contact negatives and this stuff is perfect. The base is frosted but should absolutely still work in a contact situation.