tri-x history (and d76 history)

[df cardwell]

The EASIEST way to replenish at home is to use XTOL: the developer is also the replenisher.

Mix the 5 liters and decant it. Set aside a bottle that holds enough for you tank. Label it "WORK".
( call it that because you hope that's what it will do !)

To 'season' the Working solution, soak a couple rolls of old film in the solution. Then, follow PHOTOTONE's directions. Kodak published good data on XTOL as a replenisher:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/j109/j109.pdf

( the 'seasoning' reduces the activity of the fresh developer a little bit, and in a few rolls you'll balance the pld developer with the new, and development times will stabilize. It can be worth bother if you like putting a little effort into the process. )

Share the results !

 

[jd callow]

Thanks. Callow said there would be beer...

I lied. Great to see you posting though!

 

[Anscojohn]

Someone posted: Quote on If one souped their own film, it was nearly always D-76 1+1. Everybody had their own technique, and since they were working pros, consistent results were more important than 'perfect negs'. Quote off.
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Check out Gene Smith's Minimata series. He souped in D76 2:1, and wrote that for them he always added a little bit of used developer "to take the edge off the grain."

More than one old lab rat with whom I worked in the early 1960s told me that "ya allways gotta add a little bitta used '76 to the fresh stuff."

Me? I keep it simple. I use replenished D23. I have a forgiving wife and need a forgiving film developer.

 

[Lee L]

I lied. Great to see you posting though!

No you didn't. I'm so happy to see Don posting to APUG again that I'm going to go crack a cold one. Don could get here by midnight if he left right now. I'll save a couple.

Lee

 

[df cardwell]

Check out Gene Smith's Minimata series.

..... "ya allways gotta add a little bitta used '76 to the fresh stuff."

.... I use replenished D23.

Yes, Yes, and Yes.

There's a bit of sourdough baking in this, or having a stockpot or fricot simmering on the back of the stove. The attention you give it creates a commitment to your process, and that in turn reduces the attention you have for chasing after a new formulae and gadgets.

And the magic happens when all these limitations free you as an artist.

It could give me nightmares, thinking about Gene Smith in a metaphysical breakdown, paralyzed over the choice between D-76 vs Supernol or something.

And never making the picture of Tomoko and her mother.

 

[Lee L]

And the magic happens when all these limitations free you as an artist.

I've really only done one "official" photography workshop, almost 30 years ago. All the photographers and cameras were different, but the film and developer were the same, even the EI was prescribed, requirements designed to keep people concentrated on seeing, and to get everyone past the point of hobbling concerns about film and developer.

Tri-X and D-76 1:1, processed by the workshop organizer while we were out shooting that morning's "assignment".

Lee

 

[jd callow]

Sometimes ignorance is bliss. One of my favorite photographers knows just enough about developing film to produce her work (see the portaits of me here). This is off topic and does nothing to bring the OP closer to reproducing the look of another age.

 

[Anscojohn]

[
And the magic happens when all these limitations free you as an artist.

It could give me nightmares, thinking about Gene Smith in a metaphysical breakdown, paralyzed over the choice between D-76 vs Supernol or something.

And never making the picture of Tomoko and her mother.[/QUOTE]


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Yes to your comments. Probably the D76 2:1 worked out something like Ansco 47 or something.
He knew the importance of just getting an image on film, often, he wrote, saying to himself "Oh, Hell, I'll just print it." Tedium, sometimes patience, cussedness, and lots of ferricyanide to open up the shadows served him well. He had a strong committment to the message and, as you say, made everyday materials work for him.

 

[Lee L]

Sometimes ignorance is bliss. One of my favorite photographers knows just enough about developing film to produce her work (see the portaits of me here). This is off topic and does nothing to bring the OP closer to reproducing the look of another age.

And to take it even more off topic: Where's the egg?

Lee

 

[dfoo]

What I've been doing for the past while is use stock D76. I pour the D76 in a liter bottle, and when I develop my film pour as much as possible into my 2 roll patterson tank (it takes about 850ml or so). I then develop and pour it back into the 1L bottle. I process 5 rolls this way, and then throw out the developer; I don't increase the development time. I find that across the 5 rolls the development is very consistent.