Re: Exposure and development control

[peteray@xxxxxxxxxx (Peter Ray)]

>Hmmm...  I had a recommendation of D-76 1:1 for 11 minutes at 20C (or
>was it 70F?) and used a T&T chart based on that recommendation to
>process a roll that had been exposed at EI 200.  The actual solution
>temperatures were a little below 20C/68F at the time.  The results
>were rather thin and extremely flat--so flat I can barely read the
>contact sheet (which was made by Kodalux, presumably on a medium-grade
>paper).  Since then I've been using D-76 full strength with results
>that are rather on the contrasty side, as HIE normally is, except when
>I shoot mostlly foliage.
>
>Considering your work, I wouldn't expect you to want low-contrast
>negs.  Did I do something wrong?

That development seems like plenty to give full-bodied negs. Your mistake
might be in drifting below 68 degrees for the developer. I know from
experience that the potency of print developer drops off rapidly when the
temperature is cool (probably in the 60's somewhere). Then there is always
the question of what was done at the processor. Unfortunately, price
competition means non-custom labs usually only pay a low wage for a job
that is not much fun and has little future. Dealing with things like
replenishment schedules or maintaining freshness (throwing away the old
stuff) might not have been done properly.

Let me go ahead and chime in with my thoughts on setting up an area for
developing film. If you have a basement like Tammy but no "darkroom" you
can take an old piece of plywood put some good industrial paint on it and
use it to cover just a section of your utility/washtub sink(s). Add some
developing tanks, measuring things, a thermometer and you are just about
there. In addition to that a good "darkroom" would be what most peolpe
would refer to as a film loading room. If there is a big closet or some
other unused utility room in that basement (or attic?), its much easier to
get a small little space to be light tight and really clean than a big all
purpose facility. Just go crazy with paint and caulk and maybe drywall...

So long,

Peter



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Topic No. 30