Pyrocat clarification

[mark]

I'm jumping off the cliff this weekend and processing some film in Pyrocat. For the film test is 1:1:100 for 9 minutes at 70 degrees a good starting point for a film test?

The times in the Photographers formulary are for drum processing and are roughly the same as BPF200 in d76 I will be tray processing with intermitant agitation (or should it be constant?)

The film is BPF 200 exposed at 100

I am most concerned with expansion development because my SBR's have been averaging 3. Yep BW in the SW can be a pretty flat adventure without expansion development.

 

[Donald Miller]

If you are looking for expansion, then I would choose another film. Bergger BPF and HP5 are not noted for having a lot of expansion potential. Films that have greater expansion potential are FP4+, Efke, Tmax 400, and JandC Classic 200.

You didn't mention what format that you are using...but it you go getting too rambunctious with the dilution then you start getting into grain problems. I have found grain apparent with BPF200 4X5 at an 8X10 enlargement when I used Pyrocat at 2-2-100 dilution to try to gain expansion just as you are.

 

[mark]

Here is the rest of the information

Film size-5x7
purpose-Contact Pd and Kalitype
enlargement- 0

I am using the film I have. living in the boonies means I cannot jog down to the corner Quicky Film Mart to pick up a box of film and a quart of milk.

In roll film I never liked Fp4 and I never liked the look of T-Max. I plan to try classic and Efke when I get around to it but for right now I am looking for information on BPF, developed in Pyrocat, in trays, with intermitant agitation. I am just looking for a starting time.

And if someone has a personal N+2 I would be interested in that too but it is of course something I can come up with. I'm just curious.

 

[Donald Miller]

Mark,

Considering the format and application, I would plan on using Pyrocat at the 2-2-100 dilution. This is what most of us use for Azo and Pt-pd printing. The 1-1-100 dilution is used for negatives designed for enlarging.

I would not derate the film by much if any since pyrocat does support advertised film speed well. My experience indicates that for the expansion that you want (and it may not be possible with Bergger) that I would tray develop the film at 24-26 minutes at 70 degrees F. With Bergger I found that once maximum development is attained that contrast does not increase. In fact it will decrease with the greater general density.

My times with that film (rated at EI 80) using ABC Pyro were about 18 minutes maximum development. Pyrocat is less energetic then ABC and I would anticipate that the times that I suggested would get you close to where you want to be.

 

[mark]

Thanks. That was quite a bit more than I planned. I probably would not have come close. Now that I have a start time I am on my way.