I'm sure this will bore most, but I'm posting this in case there are others that have been testing TMX or are thinking about it. Perhaps it may be informative, IDK. If there is anyone who has tested with a similar process as mine with similar results, that would be good to know.There are two things that I changed from what I did before, which was:
1. I was using the combi-plan in a dip and dunk fashion of agitation. This did not work for me as I got very uneven densities across the negative, even some mottling could be seen, and the EI was, seemingly, just too fast at 160 to 200. I changed to using the combi-plan as a daylight tank, as it was meant to be used with inversion agitation and the density uniformity improved drastically, and the EI worked out to be equal to the box speed of 100. The curve for speed crossed the 0.1 density line at exactly Zone I, using D-76 1+1, 68 deg, at Kodak's recommended time of 9:30.
2. I was testing for speed by expsoing several sheets at Zone I and then measuring each sheet; this was working, but of coarse, more time consuming and more film consumption. I changed to the method in John P. Schaefer's: AA Guide - Basic Techniques of Photography. I bought an uncalibrated 21 step density strip (1/2" x 5"), about $7.00 from Stoufer and calibrated it with my densitometer and graphed the curves as recommended. This method is, relatively, amazingly easy and quick; being able to graph a curve from one sheet of film puts you on a fast tract to learning about your own process.
I completed the testing of TMX by consuming just 6 sheets of film. One for the speed test and 5 sheets subsequently exposed at the "working EI". Each of those had to be developed individually, at different times of course, for determining dev times. My times were the following when developing for a Zone VIII density of 1.3:
N+2 = 11:30
N+1 = 10:00
N = 8:00
N-1 = 7:30
N-2 = 6:30
I was surprised that the curves showed that the minus development times have middle zone densities that seem to be very well supported. N-1 gave a Zone IX density of 1.3 and a Zone V density of 0.7; N-2 gave a Zone X density of 1.32 and Zone V at 0.6. I would be interested in knowing if anyone else has had similar results well. N-2 showed a loss of film speed by 1/3 and N+2 a gain in film speed by 1/3.
This post mostly reflects my excitement about completing the test with simplicity and timeliness. I've learned so much since being able to evaluate my own process in a more informative way.
Chuck
1. I was using the combi-plan in a dip and dunk fashion of agitation. This did not work for me as I got very uneven densities across the negative, even some mottling could be seen, and the EI was, seemingly, just too fast at 160 to 200. I changed to using the combi-plan as a daylight tank, as it was meant to be used with inversion agitation and the density uniformity improved drastically, and the EI worked out to be equal to the box speed of 100. The curve for speed crossed the 0.1 density line at exactly Zone I, using D-76 1+1, 68 deg, at Kodak's recommended time of 9:30.
2. I was testing for speed by expsoing several sheets at Zone I and then measuring each sheet; this was working, but of coarse, more time consuming and more film consumption. I changed to the method in John P. Schaefer's: AA Guide - Basic Techniques of Photography. I bought an uncalibrated 21 step density strip (1/2" x 5"), about $7.00 from Stoufer and calibrated it with my densitometer and graphed the curves as recommended. This method is, relatively, amazingly easy and quick; being able to graph a curve from one sheet of film puts you on a fast tract to learning about your own process.
I completed the testing of TMX by consuming just 6 sheets of film. One for the speed test and 5 sheets subsequently exposed at the "working EI". Each of those had to be developed individually, at different times of course, for determining dev times. My times were the following when developing for a Zone VIII density of 1.3:
N+2 = 11:30
N+1 = 10:00
N = 8:00
N-1 = 7:30
N-2 = 6:30
I was surprised that the curves showed that the minus development times have middle zone densities that seem to be very well supported. N-1 gave a Zone IX density of 1.3 and a Zone V density of 0.7; N-2 gave a Zone X density of 1.32 and Zone V at 0.6. I would be interested in knowing if anyone else has had similar results well. N-2 showed a loss of film speed by 1/3 and N+2 a gain in film speed by 1/3.
This post mostly reflects my excitement about completing the test with simplicity and timeliness. I've learned so much since being able to evaluate my own process in a more informative way.
Chuck