Questions on Litho-Set Film

[photoGrant]

Hi folks!

I've acquired a 60m roll of Litho-Set Film. I have a few questions!

Firstly, is Litho film supposed to have a pink base? I'm noticing inconsistent results when doing some preliminary tests with it. I threw some film dev (Rodinal) into some water extremely rough estimates of about 1:50. Some fix and water as my stop.

The first round of test was just checking its fogging and developed straight from the roll left a light grey (even, and clear enough for me to be happy). Then another test strip developed after exposure to light left it nice and black. Super.

So I tried to shoot some on my 35mm camera. Got some very faint detail, enough to show me it was feasible with more accurate testing and work though.

So I tested again, this time nothing. I exposed twice as long and yet it retained no detail what-so-ever. The entire strip went clear.

I decided to test a strip I'd left on the side in the light (to make sure it went black) it didn't, it's developing clear again.

Am I doing something wrong, missing something, or being a complete idiot trying to figure this out at 2am?

I think the moment the film base started to fix with a pinkish tint was the moment this all started going awry!

Thanks guys!

 

[photoGrant]

Shameful bump?

 

[rtuttle]

I'm not sure what kind of litho film you have. Tell me the company and type, I might no some things about it.

 

[ricksplace]

If your film exposed to room light did not turn black, your developer is probably pooched or contaminated. Given your testing you described, the film is probably OK.

 

[photoGrant]

I'm not sure what kind of litho film you have. Tell me the company and type, I might no some things about it.

It's by a company called Litho Supplies (UK)

http://www.litho.co.uk

The closest I can find to what it's called is LITHOSET HD/HN FILM 559X60M 600CDH

Thanks a lot, mate.

 

[photoGrant]

Thanks,

I figured that might be a cause so I'll mix together some more dev and test again. I was just curious as to how Developer can just die like it did and produce CLEAR film instead of producing nothing...

Though I never was good at Chemistry.

Thanks!

 

[Ian Grant]

Litho films are very high contrast so for anything close to normal use you'll need much higher dev dilutions, some are useable others aren't. I used to use a lot of Litho film in the 70's/80's as we had a design studio and used it to create artwork.

Ian

 

[photoGrant]

Yeah,

I'm aware it's high contrast. I've been using it in the past for enlarging negs concerning alternative prints but with such a large roll I'd like to test using it as actual film in 5x4 and 10x8 sizes.

I guess I'm looking for a v. low contrast developer + extra dilution to get any midtones? I've done a tiny bit of research and I get the feeling midtones are achievable with the right dev/dilution.

Cheers Ian!

 

[Ian Grant]

Try Rodinal 1+200, or POTA.

Ian

 

[rtuttle]

I'm not familiar with this type of film as it's most certainly a private label repackaging of most likely Agfa. It's HN means it set for a Helium Neon laser device. You may not be able to get very many tones regardless of the developer as some Rapid Access Litho films are developer incorporated. If the color of the backing is Green it's probably Agfa. Not sure of the other manufacturers, I believe Kodak was red at one time.

 

[photoGrant]

I'm not familiar with this type of film as it's most certainly a private label repackaging of most likely Agfa. It's HN means it set for a Helium Neon laser device. You may not be able to get very many tones regardless of the developer as some Rapid Access Litho films are developer incorporated. If the color of the backing is Green it's probably Agfa. Not sure of the other manufacturers, I believe Kodak was red at one time.

Thanks for the information,

The backing colour is a brown colour? Which is neither Green nor Red!