Kodak XTOL Replenish vs One shot

[Robert Ley]

I first used XTOL in 2011 and shortly after that I was concentrating more on color and digital and really did not get a chance to use it much. After about ten plus years of not shooting B&W I'm getting back into it and would like to try XTOL again.

I have read most of the treads about XTOL and have a few questions. I just bought a 5lt bag of XTOL powder and was surprised in that I thought that they had sent a 1lt bag as it was so small compared to the old Kodak XTOL.
I would like to try XTOL-R and have purchased a good two liter brown glass bottle and a collapsible storage bag that I can keep the stock solution for replenishment or to use 1:1 as a one shot if I want.
I understand that the XTOL-R needs to be seasoned before you can get consistent results usually accomplished by process 6-8 rolls of film and then replenishment starts. I found a bunch of old 35mm film that I could use to (pre-season) the XTOL. I had heard that a few photograpers of old would use old film to pre-season D76 and I'm wondering if I could use this same technique.

I would also appreciate your insights on using XTOL replenish vs one shot.

 

[mshchem]

I've used both one shot and replenished. They both work fine. I use one shot when I am using a jobo process. It is easy for me to make 5 l of xtol because I have the equipment. And use the jobo. But I have used replenished and it works great. I would use a Patterson tank or something similar if using a replenishment method. But it also will work fine with a Jobo. Replenishment is stable and economical.

 

[farpointer]

You can definitely use old film for seasoning XTOL-R. I suspect the differences between seasoned and unseasoned are subtle and would be difficult to see if you truly A-B compared the same negs.

I use XTOL one-shot despite being tempted to do XTOL-R just because I have limited time in my life.

I store XTOL in a wine bag to keep air away from it and I've had excellent shelf life. I still do the paper test with drops of stock to make sure it's working.

 

[MattKing]

As you will notice from your review of the threads, I am an X-Tol R devotee.
Your suggestion about using the old film to season the working solution is fine - just adjust the time gradually between the shorter times for using fresh stock and the longer times for using replenished developer. A straight line approximation to the necessary time adjustment should be fine.
You could probably just do your regular photography and do the same. The results will be sufficiently similar that you should be happy with the results throughout the seasoning process.
While I see some subtle benefits to the image quality, the biggest benefits for me arise because of the ease of use and economy.
Whether or not you use inversion or rotation agitation, I strongly advise always using the same volume of replenished X-Tol in your developing tank, whether or not you have 1, 2, 3 or 4 rolls in there. That will help maintain better consistency over time. As you are using it replenished, their is no economic downside to doing so.

 

[Robert Ley]

As you will notice from your review of the threads, I am an X-Tol R devotee.
Your suggestion about using the old film to season the working solution is fine - just adjust the time gradually between the shorter times for using fresh stock and the longer times for using replenished developer. A straight line approximation to the necessary time adjustment should be fine.
You could probably just do your regular photography and do the same. The results will be sufficiently similar that you should be happy with the results throughout the seasoning process.
While I see some subtle benefits to the image quality, the biggest benefits for me arise because of the ease of use and economy.
Whether or not you use inversion or rotation agitation, I strongly advise always using the same volume of replenished X-Tol in your developing tank, whether or not you have 1, 2, 3 or 4 rolls in there. That will help maintain better consistency over time. As you are using it replenished, their is no economic downside to doing so.

Hi Matt, I appreciate you chiming in here. I have a question on times with the XTOL-R. Do you use the times for stock when it is seasoned or are those the times for fresh XTOL and how do you adjust the times once seasoned? I will be using the Paterson tanks that I just got, the two reel and three reel tanks. I realize that developing times are personal to your particular technique and your times might not work for me. I'm looking for a rule of thumb for using XTOL-R and I'd like to get in the ballpark for times. Thanks for your help.
I'm also thinking of getting a B's processor https://www.bounetphoto.com/bounet-designs-analog-shop to use with my new Paterson tanks. Has anyone used one of these processors or tell me what you think of the processor.

 

[MattKing]

X-Tol R times will be close to the times for X-Tol 1+1 used one-shot, so that is what I would start out with as a target time.
I have for years used the "Developing Computer" in the old Kodak Darkroom Dataguides to set my development time, according to the ambient temperature of the working solution that happens to be in effect when I go to develop film.
Over the years, I have refined the "Development Number" that one uses with that "Computer" for each film developed.
I note on each sheet of negative holders the Development number used for that roll, and I visually evaluate the negative development regularly.
I think I am currently using Development Number "38" with oldish T-Max 400 and my several year old batch of working solution - that is for subjects exposed under reasonably average lighting.
And all of my development is done in a 3x135/2x120 reel Paterson Super System IV tank, filld with 1 litre of developer.
First 30 seconds using continuous reversing rotary agitation, with the rest of the development using hand inversion - 5 seconds each 30 seconds.

 

[Craig]

The J108 publication from 1996 gives times for fresh and replenished developer in a Jobo.

 

[mshchem]

The J108 publication from 1996 gives times for fresh and replenished developer in a Jobo.

Perfect Advice!