Questions about high HC-110 dilutions

[Mike Feit]

Hello everybody,

I read somewhere that HC-110 is supposed to give better shadow detail the more diluted it is. Is that true? And if so, would using higher dilutions be the best choice for achieving low contrast negatives? I also read that dilution G acts as a compensating developer. I'm slightly confused by all the dilutions... Do these higher dilutions really have any benefits?

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

Hello everybody,

I read somewhere that HC-110 is supposed to give better shadow detail the more diluted it is. Is that true? And if so, would using higher dilutions be the best choice for achieving low contrast negatives? I also read that dilution G acts as a compensating developer. I'm slightly confused by all the dilutions... Do these higher dilutions really have any benefits?

Hello everybody,

I read somewhere that HC-110 is supposed to give better shadow detail the more diluted it is. Is that true? And if so, would using higher dilutions be the best choice for achieving low contrast negatives? I also read that dilution G acts as a compensating developer. I'm slightly confused by all the dilutions... Do these higher dilutions really have any benefits?

Better shadow details will come with more exposure to record them correctly. A higher dilution will help you with closer control of contrast.

I know of a member of FADU forum who uses dilution H for processing HP5 Plus film and he produces excellent prints from his darkroom.

 

[Alex Benjamin]

HC-110 is a solvent developer, but since it's always used diluted the solvent effect is not as strong as D-76 or Xtol stock. That said, the higher the dilution, the less solvent effect you'll have. This will have no impact on shadows, but will (or might) on grain and, more importantly contrast, because it has more compensating effects at high dilutions. Ansel Adams mentions using HC-110 at high dilutions for compensating effect in The Negative.

You won't get lower contrast, as per your question, but the compensating effect will mean, amongst other things, that you will have better highlight details and micro contrast. But contrast will also be influenced by agitation.

I've never tried dilution F (1:79) or G (1:119), but I've read that the difference between these and the widely used B is not noticeable if working on medium or large format. Covington — https://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/ — doesn't mention any major differences, and seems to imply that you can go from one to the other, especially A or B and H, essentially for practical reasons, i.e., when development times are too short.

HC-110 doesn't increase film speed, so it won't give you better shadow detail. Good thing is that it doesn't decrease speed either. As Keith said, shadow detail will depend on good exposure.

 

[Mike Feit]

HC-110 is a solvent developer, but since it's always used diluted the solvent effect is not as strong as D-76 or Xtol stock. That said, the higher the dilution, the less solvent effect you'll have. This will have no impact on shadows, but will (or might) on grain and, more importantly contrast, because it has more compensating effects at high dilutions. Ansel Adams mentions using HC-110 at high dilutions for compensating effect in The Negative.

You won't get lower contrast, as per your question, but the compensating effect will mean, amongst other things, that you will have better highlight details and micro contrast. But contrast will also be influenced by agitation.

I've never tried dilution F (1:79) or G (1:119), but I've read that the difference between these and the widely used B is not noticeable if working on medium or large format. Covington — https://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/ — doesn't mention any major differences, and seems to imply that you can go from one to the other, especially A or B and H, essentially for practical reasons, i.e., when development times are too short.

HC-110 doesn't increase film speed, so it won't give you better shadow detail. Good thing is that it doesn't decrease speed either. As Keith said, shadow detail will depend on good exposure.

Thank you very much for your response, this was very informative!

 

[Mike Feit]

Better shadow details will come with more exposure to record them correctly. A higher dilution will help you with closer control of contrast.

I know of a member of FADU forum who uses dilution H for processing HP5 Plus film and he produces excellent prints from his darkroom.

Thank you for your insight, this definitely helped!

 

[MattKing]

Whatever you do, make sure their is enough syrup in the first place. Higher dilutions require bigger tanks. Reverse engineering the Kodak data results in a recommendation of at least 6 ml of syrup per 135-16/120/8x10.