Pyrocat HD and your Development times?

[Melisa Taylor]

Hi Guys...

I have some pyrocat HD and I'm going to develop some film this week in it.

I found a small amount of Developing times at the massive dev chart, but it wasn't really enough info for me.

I am going to be developing 120 film.

I'd like to you know your development times for different films in pyrocat. What have you tried, what works well, etc. I guess it would be good to include the dilution you used as well.

I know Leon will have some advice to offer here (he's given it to me before, but I lost it).


Thanks in advance!!

 

[Eric Rose]

maybe if we all dump our dev times into this thread we could then transfer it to an article for easy look up.

 

[Silverpixels5]

I develop the 135 version of Tri-X for about 5 minutes at 72 degrees. This is with pre-soaking, followed by constant inversion for the first 60 secs, and then for 10 secs each remaining minute. Water stop for 1 min, then fix.

 

[Leon]

I've been doing 1:1:100, 21 degrees, 5 min pre soak, 60 secs inversions then 4 inversions once every three mins, 30 secs water stop and alkaline fix:-

fp4 (ei 64) 16 mins
Delta 100 (ei 64) 16 mins)
Hp5 (ei 200) 18 mins
HP5 in holga (ei???) between 18 and 24 mins (depending on light)
classic pan 200 (ei 100) 14 mins

I tried some fp4 last night at 1:1:50 same technique as above but for only 12 mins - looks fine and can probably get away with ei 80. I have shot a proper zone I and VIII test roll to refine this a bit but havent dev'd it yet.

good luck melisa - I'm sure you'll like the results

 

[Melisa Taylor]

maybe if we all dump our dev times into this thread we could then transfer it to an article for easy look up.

amen! sounds like plan! I will totally transfer it to a new article.

 

[Melisa Taylor]

I've been doing 1:1:100, 21 degrees, 5 min pre soak, 60 secs inversions then 4 inversions once every three mins, 30 secs water stop and alkaline fix:-

fp4 (ei 64) 16 mins
Delta 100 (ei 64) 16 mins)
Hp5 (ei 200) 18 mins
HP5 in holga (ei???) between 18 and 24 mins (depending on light)
classic pan 200 (ei 100) 14 mins

I tried some fp4 last night at 1:1:50 same technique as above but for only 12 mins - looks fine and can probably get away with ei 80. I have shot a proper zone I and VIII test roll to refine this a bit but havent dev'd it yet.

good luck melisa - I'm sure you'll like the results

A couple questions, Leon. This pre-soak you speak of... is this in water? and as far as HP5 goes, why does everyone pull-process to 200 instead of 400? Can it be done as 400? Is there a simple method to figuring out the times for pushing film in this? and lastly...how long do I fix in the alkaline fixer (i have Hypam)?

Sorry for all the questions... I really want to get this right.

 

[noseoil]

Melissa, it sounds like you are starting to get your feet wet.

Film is under rated to allow better shadow detail.

Pre-soak is in water to promote more even development.

One word of advice, please consider doing your own film tests to get a better idea of capabilities.

 

[Silverpixels5]

I've always got full emulsion speed, or very close to it, with PCat HD.

 

[Matthijs]

I've always got full emulsion speed, or very close to it, with PCat HD.

Yep, so do I.

FP4+ (EI 100): 2 min. pre-soak; 8 min @ 21° C/70° F; four tank inversions when starting development, then two every minute.

 

[jtsatterlee]

Melisa- No issue using Hypam as your fixer.

Some suggested starting times that are from other threads (and Posted by Sandy King, giving credit where credit is due )

from Pyrocat and flat scenes....

I recommend the 1:1:100 dilution for printing on graded silver papers, but if that dilution does not give you enough contrast for VC papers just switch to the 2:2:100 dilution. I seriously doubt there is any scene so flat that it could not be handled with the 2:2:100 dilution with development times of 10-15 minutes.

from Dilutions and Pyrocat HD

You choose dilution for the contrast required for a development time of 10-12 minutes. For graded silver papers a 1:1:100 dilution will develop a FP4+ negative to the right CI in about 10 minutes. For VC papers or AZO #2 or palladium try the 2:2:100 dilution with about the same time of development. Low contrast films need about 30% more development time to reach the same CI.

Personally, when I use my Holgas with a slightly larger than normal aperture (i pulled out that little washer)
HP5+ - 1:1:100 -16 minutes for 'normal' contrast and light
1:1:100 -20 minutes for 'lower' contrast and light
I use the agitation method that Leon posted (the times were suggested by him too)
for Delta 3200 I have been trying 3:2:100, 30 minutes/40minutes for 'normal'/'low' with 1 minute constant agitation and 10 inversions every 10 minutes.

 

[Tom Stanworth]

I'm still playing, but at 1:1:100 and 20 degs C with agitation for 60 s then 10s per 2 mins:

APX100 (trial ISO 80) (120 in small tank)- 13 mins (printed on G3.5 VC) so 16-18 mins should be good
Tmax100 (trial iso of 64) (5x4 in combitank)- 14 mins (printed on G2.5-3VC).

Efke 100 seems to take forever.........I'm up to 15 mins constant agitation 1.5:1.5:100. Prints a normal scene on G3 ish VC.

 

[Melisa Taylor]

Melissa, it sounds like you are starting to get your feet wet.

Film is under rated to allow better shadow detail.

Pre-soak is in water to promote more even development.

One word of advice, please consider doing your own film tests to get a better idea of capabilities.

I guess that will come with practice, eh (the film testing)?

As far as under rating goes, that means I need to shoot and meter for what I'm rating it as, right? I should know this, but my brain is tired today.



---

Anybody with experience in TMAX (100 and 400)? That's all I can seem to get around here, unfortunately. Must start ordering Ilford from the net.

the massive dev chart says:
TMax 100 Dilution: stock EI 64 9 min temp 27C/80.6F
TMax 400 Dilution: stock EI 400 10 min temp 27C/80.6F

that 80 degrees freaks me out a little...seems hot. i'm only used to HC-110b at 68degrees, though.

 

[Leon]

I guess that will come with practice, eh (the film testing)?

As far as under rating goes, that means I need to shoot and meter for what I'm rating it as, right? I should know this, but my brain is tired today.[ /QUOTE]

yup thats right.

if you dont have time/ inclination to test etc, alter as you go on. If your shadows are blocked up lower teh film speed, if your highlights are blown out shroten your dev time, or vice versa, too falt - lengthen dev time .....

BArry thornton had a good article on testing for personal film sppeds and dev times on his website, but it's gone offline now ... did anyone copy it?

 

[Tom Stanworth]

Anybody with experience in TMAX (100 and 400)? That's all I can seem to get around here, unfortunately. Must start ordering Ilford from the net.

.

I've done 100 TMAX 5x4 in combitank at 20 degs C agitation for 1 minute then 10 seconds per minute for 14 mins. Fine for G2.5 VC print with colour head.

 

[RichNich]

>>> BArry thornton had a good article on testing for personal film sppeds and dev times on his website, but it's gone offline now ... did anyone copy it?[/QUOTE] <<<

The site's been archived - not all of it is available but a fair amount remains.

http://web.archive.org/web/20030603231702/www.barry-thornton.co.uk/main.htm

Richard.

 

[fhovie]

When I use Pyrocat for 120 TRI-X, I shoot at ASA 400 and develop for 25 minutes with 1:1:150 dilution at 70F and agitate once every 5 minutes for 5 seconds. I can get full film speed that way. The results are very good for enlarging with a condenser enlarger for N processing on Grade 2 fiber paper.

 

[Leon]

The site's been archived - not all of it is available but a fair amount remains.

http://web.archive.org/web/20030603231702/www.barry-thornton.co.uk/main.htm

Richard.

thanks for that richard.

Melisa, these articles are excellent to follow

http://web.archive.org/web/20030603231808/www.barry-thornton.co.uk/pfs.htm

&

http://web.archive.org/web/20030602204913/www.barry-thornton.co.uk/devtime.htm

I'm so pleased the site hasnt gone completely