Reluctantly: Dev. Time 4x5 TMY400/PMK

[Doremus Scudder]

I normally have a bit of an aversion to questions like this, but find myself in the position to ask for assistance finding starting times for testing the new version of 4x5 T-Max in PMK. (I imagine I'll be more charitable when others ask for developing times in the future now that I find myself in the same position )

My research of the web forums and the Kodak literature leaves me with a range of possible starting times that is rather too wide for my liking, and I was hoping to find someone here in the APUG community who processes in a manner similar to me who could provide me a more targeted starting point, and thus save me a couple of rounds of film speed/development time testing.

I use the Zone System, and am looking for a N development time for 4x5 T-Max 400 in PMK processed by hand in trays and optimized for diffusion enlarging. I develop up to six sheets in 500ml of PMK solution in deep 5x7 trays, agitating once through the stack every minute after an initial period of constant agitation (20 degrees Celsius).

The more similar your processing technique is to mine, the closer your time will be to the one I end up with and, therefore, the better starting point for me.

If you use Tri-X as well, and could provide me with your normal time for that film processed the same way, I could use the data to extrapolate an even closer starting point by comparing your Tri-X N time with mine.

Contraction and expansion times would be appreciated as well, if it is no trouble. However, I can calculate these relatively easily once I have N nailed down.

Thanks in advance for taking time to help.

Best,

Doremus Scudder
www.DoremusScudder.com

 

[Alex Hawley]

Hi Doremus,

I don't use PMK, but with Pyrocat, I started with recommended times for the old TMY and found them satisfactory. I've adjusted a little bit now, most likely due to my specific conditions. But, I think the consensus of new TMY users would say that there's no significant difference in development times between old TMY and new TMY, irregardless of the developer used.

I struggled a bit with the same question several months ago.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Alex,

My problem is that I have never used the old TMY either, and therefore, have no time for it to start with (otherwise I probably wouldn't have needed to ask...).

Best,

Doremus Scudder
www.DoremusScudder.com

 

[ROL]

Why not start with Hutchings' recommendations from The Book of Pyro? Kodak T-Grain films (old) are listed with expansion and contraction (i.e, T100 = N of 12min., T400 = N of 15 -@70F).

I've standardized on PMK Pyro (old) and by looking at your site I think your process resembles mine closely, however I don't use Tmax films (TMX - too mushy, TMY?). I do use TXP 320 (at 200) and found a normal tray development of 12 min., based on film testing and taste. N+1, -1 are plus and minus a couple minutes based mostly on a combination of instinct and experience.