old Tech Pan exposed at 4 ASA -- what developer?

DarkroomExperimente · Apr 29, 2014

a friend of mine has a roll of Tech Pan exposed at 4 ASA....shot about 15 years ago and stored in a freezer

any suggestions on what developer to use....times, dilutions, etc??

these are nudes so he needs normal contrast

DarkroomExperimente · Apr 29, 2014

so far the only developer that has times/temps listed for Tech Pan @ ASA 4 is XTOL......what kind of contrast would I get with XTOL???

Brian C. Miller · Apr 29, 2014

#1, that film has been overexposed by a bit over 2 stops. Bad. Techpan does not like that, not even one stop. Yes, Techpan has fine grain, but the resolution is going to be awful due to the overexposure.

#2, Techpan, without Technidol, is a very high-contrast film. And with exposure like that, the time will have to be shortened even further. If Xtol has the times, just use them. You'll get a very high contrast result, but it should be printable. Go for a 00 grade on the paper.

Paul Cunningham · Apr 29, 2014

There is still Technidol for sale on eBay, might be worth looking into.
I can't help but think how impressed the model might be to see themselves as they looked 15 years ago. Even a few years can be dramatic.

darkosaric · Apr 30, 2014

Paul Cunningham said:
I can't help but think how impressed the model might be to see themselves as they looked 15 years ago. Even a few years can be dramatic.

I was thinking the same ! Any results will be appreciated, not matter which developer you use.

If money is the problem - I used very diluted Rodinal (1+100) and stand development with TP @iso 25, but high contrast will be there.

limnidytis · Apr 30, 2014

Photographers Formulary sells a Techidol substitute - TD-3. Seems to work OK when I've used it.

Hatchetman · Apr 30, 2014

I would maybe cut off a short piece of film and run an experiment. Sure you will lose a frame but might give you some guidance.

StoneNYC · Apr 30, 2014

POTA definitely, if you want to have it come out without insane contrast.

Take a clipping, mix up some POTA and test it.

I wouldn't worry at all about fogging with that emulsion, it's so slow, and in the freezer, just develop as normal for that EI.

But what do I know? I've inly done this with EI25 in POTA,

DarkroomExperimente · Apr 30, 2014

I have a roll of Tech Pan I'm going to shoot and use as a test roll...or maybe use portions of the roll

I'll clip test my friend's roll if he agrees

the Photo Formulary developer was one of my first thoughts, but unsure how it would handle the 4 asa exposure

gandolfi · Apr 30, 2014

Brian C. Miller said:
#1, that film has been overexposed by a bit over 2 stops. Bad. Techpan does not like that, not even one stop. Yes, Techpan has fine grain, but the resolution is going to be awful due to the overexposure.

#2, Techpan, without Technidol, is a very high-contrast film. And with exposure like that, the time will have to be shortened even further. If Xtol has the times, just use them. You'll get a very high contrast result, but it should be printable. Go for a 00 grade on the paper.

well - the first: I have always exposed my Tech Pan at 100 iso...

The second: never liked Technidol for this, but have loved Neofin Doku...

(BTW: I have read - not tried - that TechPan can be developed in color developer with good results...)

DarkroomExperimente · Apr 30, 2014

thanks...I have also heard about c-41

just found some posts suggesting HC110 works well with Tech Pan shot @ asa 12...so I will probably test that idea since I have some HC110 already...if that doesn't work out I can try one of the other options

VPooler · May 2, 2014

I have developed Technical Pan exposed at 25 in Rodinal with various grades of success, the working combo was

Success!!! 900ml of water, 7ml of Rodinal concentrate. Expose for 25ASA, develop for 10-11 minutes. Good contrasty negatives with sufficient shadow detail. Initial agitation 10 sec, after that every minute for 5 seconds. Inversion at 6th and 8th minute. Increase agitation minute before completion to get the last out of developer before total exhaustion. Booyah!

However, with other dilutions and times I got underdeveloped negs, maybe that is what you need. My whole saga with Rodinal is described here:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Maybe something you find informative. The contrast was superb. Punchy blacks, bright whites, yet smooth gray tones.

Murray Kelly · May 2, 2014

Studional 1:80 stand 1hr
Pyrocat 1:1:250 stand 1 hr
H&W as per the massive d chart
Technidol if you can get it.
HC-110 1:120 stand.
Google cafenol + Techpan Caffenol LC +c
Jack Dong LC-1 on Photo.net
Sweet n Low J. de Fehr same place

DarkroomExperimente · May 6, 2014

the saga continues:

shot a test roll of Tech Pan today @ 4 ISO...then learned later that my friend's roll was actually shot at 8 ISO

anyway, I had found online someone suggesting HC110 1:100 for 20 minutes works for Tech Pan @ 12 ISO...

So I developed a 6 inch portion of my 4 ISO roll in HC110 1:125 for 15 minutes....film is still drying but the negatives looked pretty good

I ordered some XTOL last night...so will try that

AND found 6 packets of technidol that I've had for years...so will also try that

so many developers to try I need more film to play with now

old Tech Pan exposed at 4 ASA -- what developer?

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