Kodalith

MrBrowning · Oct 8, 2014

I just got a box of 4x5 (unopened) and a box of 11x14 (opened) Kodalith film. What would be a good ISO to use as a starting point? What would be a good developer to try? The films expired in 1991.

Athiril · Oct 9, 2014

All the continuous tone results I've seen online are ISO 12, from D-76 to Rodinal stand.

Here is one in Technidol
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/5389512950

Rodinal stand
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sweeney1971/13151706023
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/4265917702
https://www.flickr.com/photos/42686493@N04/8432942195

scheimfluger_77 · Oct 9, 2014

These are awesome!

MrBrowning · Oct 9, 2014

Athiril said:
All the continuous tone results I've seen online are ISO 12, from D-76 to Rodinal stand.

Here is one in Technidol
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/5389512950

Rodinal stand
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sweeney1971/13151706023
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/4265917702
https://www.flickr.com/photos/42686493@N04/8432942195

Part of what I got included 3 boxes each with 3 packets of Technidol and a bottle of Rodinal that I don't think I'm going to open since it's old (at least not until I see how old it is). I'll try shooting some of ot and using the Technidol. Thanks.

Any idea what a good starting time would be?

Athiril · Oct 9, 2014

Rodinal should be good still. Test it using non-stand development with a regular film at a prescribed time to check.

Here is his blog post, it appears he developed it with the Tech Pan, so that means the same time as Tech Pan, which should be listed on your technidol packaging.

http://randomphoto.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/three-films-on-huron.html

MrBrowning · Oct 9, 2014

Athiril said:
Rodinal should be good still. Test it using non-stand development with a regular film at a prescribed time to check.

Here is his blog post, it appears he developed it with the Tech Pan, so that means the same time as Tech Pan, which should be listed on your technidol packaging.

http://randomphoto.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/three-films-on-huron.html

Thanks for the link and all the information. What do you mean by non standard development. Are you talking about stand or semi stand or something else?

Athiril · Oct 9, 2014

Non-stand, like regular development, such as 1+25 for 8 minutes, etc.

Rick A · Oct 9, 2014

I bought out a darkroom a few years back, there was a half used bottle of 30+yr old Rodinal in with it. It worked just like fresh developer.

MrBrowning · Oct 9, 2014

Athiril said:
Non-stand, like regular development, such as 1+25 for 8 minutes, etc.

Lol I misread that. I'm sorry. I read "non standard" for some reason.

MrBrowning · Oct 9, 2014

Rick A said:
I bought out a darkroom a few years back, there was a half used bottle of 30+yr old Rodinal in with it. It worked just like fresh developer.

Thanks Rick. It's one of the many things i have to play with. Oh and I ordered some of the benzotriazole you recommended so I can try some of the paper I got.

jcoldslabs · Oct 9, 2014

I have a bunch of Kodalith Ortho Type 3 in 4x5 and 8x10. Not sure if this is the same stuff you have, but I expose mine at EI 6 and develop in very dilute HC-110. Not great for high contrast situations, but when used carefully it is virtually grainless with a nice tonal range.

Here is a 4x5 image made with it, processed in HC-110 1:79 (from concentrate) for 3 minutes in a rotary drum at 68°F.

Jonathan

Newt_on_Swings · Oct 10, 2014

Great thing is you can develop by safelight inspection with this film. Shoot is slow and develop dilute unless you are aiming for high contrast which is pretty cool with this film too.

Rick A · Oct 10, 2014

Newt_on_Swings said:
Great thing is you can develop by safelight inspection with this film. Shoot is slow and develop dilute unless you are aiming for high contrast which is pretty cool with this film too.

Make sure it's a dark red safe light.

MrBrowning · Oct 10, 2014

Thanks everyone. I loaded some of the 4x5 to shoot tomorrow morning. Now to figure out something to shoot the 11x14. I'm thinking about figuring out he 4x5 then making a pinhole camera for the big stuff.

MrBrowning · Oct 10, 2014

jcoldslabs said:
I have a bunch of Kodalith Ortho Type 3 in 4x5 and 8x10. Not sure if this is the same stuff you have, but I expose mine at EI 6 and develop in very dilute HC-110. Not great for high contrast situations, but when used carefully it is virtually grainless with a nice tonal range.

Here is a 4x5 image made with it, processed in HC-110 1:79 (from concentrate) for 3 minutes in a rotary drum at 68°F.

Jonathan

Yes it's the same as the 11x14 I have.

I have a Jobo but not sure if it works. If it does I'll try using HC110. Very nice photo.

Rich Ullsmith · Oct 11, 2014

I have scads of the Kodak Graphic arts film, which I do not know if this is an analogue of what you have. I haven't put any in a camera, but I have been playing with making lith positives and lith negatives, printing them together base to base. Weird line images . . .there is a lot of fun to be had with this stuff. Lith positives present beautifully in light boxes.

I process under a 645nm LED, bounced off the ceiling so it's not very bright, but enough to follow development. My films are very old too, but I have not noticed any fog or lack of contrast. Maybe the lith process is covering that up. Have fun playing with it, everything I have read about it is trial and error.

MrBrowning · Oct 13, 2014

Tonight I developed two test shots I took with the Kodalith in my pinhole camera. I used Barry Thornton's Two Bath (the variant with Sodium Carbonate) and diluted each bath 1+2. It was something like 2.5 minutes in Bath A and 3.5 Minutes in Bath B. The results look promising. I made a contact print and it's in the wash now. I'll post a scan in the morning.

I transferred the film to water near the end and decided to put it back into the B Bath.

I didn't want to mix up what little Technidol I have for 2 shots and the 2 bath was nearing the end of it's life span.

MrBrowning · Oct 14, 2014

So a while back I ran out of print developer when I was using the Harman Direct Positive Paper. I used the 2 bath to develop a few pinhole shots and it seemed to lower contrast so I wondered if it would work with the Kodalith. Here is the contact print from last night. I still plan to try what you all have suggested but I figured since the developer was near it's end I'd give it a try.

Tonight I'm going to try developing in Rodianl Semi-Stand and if i get time I'll try the HC110.

phildil · Oct 14, 2014

Kodalith Ortho... wonderful stuff. I have shot it in 35mm:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/phildil/8583093919/

I rated it at ISO 6 and developed it in Rodinal, so it seems. I have also found that a weak HC110 solution works well for pictorial use of Kodak 5363 which is a similar hi-contrast ortho stock.

hth

2F/2F · Oct 14, 2014

That is such great film for making enlarged images for alt processes that it would be a shame to use it in a camera IMO. The litho films alt process folks are limited to these days are pretty sad compared to Kodalith.

MrBrowning · Oct 14, 2014

2F/2F said:
That is such great film for making enlarged images for alt processes that it would be a shame to use it in a camera IMO. The litho films alt process folks are limited to these days are pretty sad compared to Kodalith.

I don't do any alt processes (at least not at this point). Maybe I'll hold on to the 11x14 for now and just play with the 4x5.

2F/2F · Oct 14, 2014

4x5's make great interpositives, so you don't have to contact print your enlarged negatives. Just sayin'...

Kodalith

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