Xtol and Trix Clear developer after development?

[ajuk]

I just put the Tri x in Xtol 1+1 20c for 9 minutes and the Xtol came out clear is that how it should be?

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Not all developers become coloured after processing; my experience with XTOL is that it stays clear.

Tom

 

[fschifano]

Yes, that's quite normal. I think it's the sodium sulfite in the developer that's responsible for bleaching the color out of any dyes that are leached from the film during development. Same thing happens with D-76. If you use the developer in a replenished system, it will turn a little gray; but that's mostly due to the detritus it picks up along the way. No harm in it.

 

[danegermouse]

i've never noticed any discolouration with xtol, regardless of the film or the dilution.

dane.

 

[jp498]

Perhaps you do not pre-rinse film and tri-x doesn't have any color that prerinses off? I use xtol regularly, but haven't used tri-x in 20 years. The films I use have a purple, blue, green that comes off in pre-rinse.

 

[danegermouse]

tri-x usually leaves a purple tinge to developers and rinses but xtol is noticeably cleaner. i'm sure the above posts can allude to an accurate explanation of why but all you need to know is that "you're in the clear"

 

[Athiril]

I've had Xtol and Rodinal both come out very very deep orange after doing processing they were not intended for.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Xtol will remain clear whether you pre-rinse the film or not. I haven't tried all films with it, but in my experience there is one exception: Foma 100, 200, and 400 films. The sensitizing dye of those films (in 120 format) will actually tint the developer a stunning turquoise color that's really attractive!

Since I stopped using those films due to some nagging quality problems, my replenished solution is increasingly losing its turquoise tint. I'm almost sad to see the color go.
Now I use Kodak Tmax 400/100 and an odd roll of Acros. I don't usually pre-soak the film, but did once to see if I could tell a difference in the negatives. The water rinse came out a deep deep purple from the Tmax 400 films. But the resulting negatives looked, scanned, and printed the same as always.

So don't worry about it. Clear Xtol is normal.

- Thomas