Realistic times for FP4 in HC-110

KidA · Aug 31, 2015

Last night I developed a roll of FP4 (135) in HC 110 'B' (1:31) Pushed to 200. I don't have my notes at hand, so I don't remember the time exactly, but I did follow recommended times. And the result were really nice. Quite high contrast tho. I was printing with '0-1/2' multigrade filters. My first time printing FP4 and I fell in love! Can't wait to expose some more of this stuff at different speeds.

reneboehmer · 2025-08-09T07:22:40-0400

Yesterday when randomly testing my new sensitometer I encountered the issue many here report. That of way too much contrast in Fp4 when in HC110 Dilution B.

Here are two curves of FP4. 6 and 9 min. As reported in the datasheet.

Here are my results.

aconbere · 2025-08-09T10:02:23-0400

reneboehmer said:
Yesterday when randomly testing my new sensitometer I encountered the issue many here report. That of way too much contrast in Fp4 when in HC110 Dilution B.

Here are two curves of FP4. 6 and 9 min. As reported in the datasheet.

Here are my results.

I actually get too contrasty negatives with FP4 in HC-110 with both 1+31 and 1+63. I’ve cut their times almost in half. So i’m curious about your results but I could use help interpreting them.

reneboehmer · 2025-08-10T11:30:31-0400

aconbere said:
I actually get too contrasty negatives with FP4 in HC-110 with both 1+31 and 1+63. I’ve cut their times almost in half. So i’m curious about your results but I could use help interpreting them.

Hello Aconbere,
my measuring shows that the steepness of the curve is too intense. The calculated steepness; or gamma, is about 1.10, with a development time of 6 min. (which already is 3 min under the recommended time) A good curve steepness for diffuse enlarger printing should be a bout 0.75. Your statement of halving the time (from 9 to 4,5) is probably right on the money. This should be good for a negative to print well at 2 1/2 or 2 grade paper, in a diffuse light enlarger.

reneboehmer · 2025-08-10T11:34:22-0400

reneboehmer said:
Hello Aconbere,
my measuring shows that the steepness of the curve is too intense. The calculated steepness; or gamma, is about 1.10, with a development time of 6 min. (which already is 3 min under the recommended time) A good curve steepness for diffuse enlarger printing should be a bout 0.75. Your statement of halving the time (from 9 to 4,5) is probably right on the money. This should be good for a negative to print well at 2 1/2 or 2 grade paper, in a diffuse light enlarger.

I can't say what speed the film would have at this development time, though. Maybe anywhere from 50 to 80 ISO. This can only be assumed from my side at this moment.

reneboehmer · 2025-08-10T17:27:06-0400

aconbere said:
I actually get too contrasty negatives with FP4 in HC-110 with both 1+31 and 1+63. I’ve cut their times almost in half. So i’m curious about your results but I could use help interpreting them.

Hey, I have made the tests and to me, it seems that an optimal development is 5 min in 1+47 Kodak Hc110. The approx. Speed at this development would be ISO50. With a development of 6 min in 1+79 an approx ISO of 25 probably be ok. The 5 min 1+47 will compress a 5 Stop Subject luminance range into 1.17 Density range and a 6 min 1+79 will compress a 7 Stop Subject luminance range into 1.11 Density range. Ilford warm tone FB datasheet states that a 1.1 DR is optimal for grade 2 printing.

Realistic times for FP4 in HC-110

KidA

reneboehmer

aconbere

reneboehmer

reneboehmer

reneboehmer

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