404ml in an 8x10 tray is way to little solution to batch process 4x5 film easily! Most people who shuffle in batches of 6 sheets or so in 8x10 trays use a liter of solution. I, like Bill, use deep Paterson 5x7 trays. I use 500ml solution.
If you're just starting out and want to master the shuffle technique of tray developing, practice with scrap sheets in a tray of water with the lights on till you get the hang of it. Then close your eyes and practice for a while longer. Gently pull one sheet from the bottom of the stack by sliding it horizontally till it is clear of the other sheets (I shuffle along the short dimension of the film, but others like the long side; to each his own). Then lay the sheet flat on the surface of the developer on top of the stack and submerge it gently with the balls of your fingers. Be careful not to submerge the film corner first or any other way that could scratch the emulsion of the sheet just below it.
Safety note: I recommend gloves when developing to minimize exposure to the chemicals. Thin blue nitrile gloves are great. I've used vinyl and latex gloves to but nitrile is a better barrier. Gloves are a must if using toxic developers like pyro developers. Also, Metol is known to cause contact dermatitis in many, so gloves are a good idea with MQ developers too. If you don't use gloves (some don't and maybe with Xtol or the like it's not so bad), then be sure to clip your nails and file them blunt before developing so you don't scratch films with them. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
With 8x10 trays, the challenge is to keep the film corralled in one corner of the tray with your hands while developing so they don't float all around, turn sideways or diagonally, etc. and end up scratching each other. The film is easier to control this way in a 5x7 tray.
I develop emulsion-side-up, and shuffle from bottom to top in a regime that goes once through my stack of films every 30 seconds. The shuffling interval changes with the number of films: 2 sheets - 15-sec. intervals, 3 sheets - 10 sec. intervals, 5 sheets - 6-sec. intervals, 6 sheets - 5-sec. intervals. I can develop up to 8 sheets at a time, but prefer to stick to batches of 6 or fewer.
Presoak is important if you develop in batches. Immerse the films one-at-a-time in the water presoak and agitate for 10 seconds or so before immersing another sheet. Otherwise, they will stick together. If they do stick, be patient and soak them apart (takes some minutes).
When the presoak is done (I like 2 minutes minimum), gather all the films together, lift them out of the water, drain a bit, then fan them in your hand like a hand of cards (takes some practice in the dark, so practice this too with your scrap sheets). I always turn the first sheet to go into the developer 180° so I can keep track of the stack order while I'm shuffling.
Next, start your timer and immerse the films in the developer one-at-a-time in the same interval sequence as you plan to use shuffling. I agitate between immersions by lifting the stack up and down a few times (so only the top film gets the agitation effect). After all films are in the developer, begin your shuffle routine. I turn my sheets 180° with each shuffle to avoid uneven development. Also, immerse each sheet gently into the developer
When development is done, lift the films out of the developer, fan them as before and immerse them in the stop bath in the same order and at the same interval that you used putting them into the developer. This ensures the exact same developing time for all sheets, but you need to keep track of sheet one and make sure the film goes into the stop in the same order as into the developer (if you lose track, no big deal, it's just a few seconds difference anyway; I'm just extra precise).
Agitate in the stop by shuffling as before. The intervals are no longer so important, so handle the film carefully. After the stop time is up, you can pick up the whole stack, drain it, and transfer it to the fix as a unit. Shuffle in the fix until at least half the fixing time is up before turning on the room lights.
Finish up the fix and then wash however you do. I have slotted film washers. Tray washing works too, but is time-consuming because you have to shuffle constantly.
Hope this helps get you started.
Doremus
