Re: Exposure and development control

[George L Smyth <GLSmyth@xxxxxxx>]

Robert Long wrote:
> 
> On Tue, 22 Oct 1996 12:56:30 +0100, George L Smyth wrote:
> 
> |HIE development control can certainly be used with the typical caveats
> |that what I use may not be what you want.  MY starting points are:
> |         EI    D76 1+1 70F
> |         64    7 min
> |        125    8 1/3 min
> |        250    10 min
> 
> 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.

Our meters are all different.  The thermometers we use probably vary. 
The way we agitate the tank is not the same.  The results we're after
most certainly differs.  There are so many variable involved, I
generally tend not to give specific recommendations concerning
development times because my exact instructions can quite possibly give
someone else dissimilar results.  I can tell you how I do things and
point to the results on my Web page, but that's about it.  

The 11 minute may well be valid, but apparently not for you.  It appears
that since you've found a point where the negatives are too contrast and
a point where they're too flat, now you simply need to find the middle.
<g>  If you decide to stick with D76 stock, just reduce your development
time a bit.  If you think that that'll put you under the 5 minute mark,
perhaps try again with D76 1+1 and extend the development.

One thing to keep in mind is that you will almost certainly get mixed
results on the same roll, which is the bane of 35mm use.  Fortunately,
there is variable contrast paper to bail us out when we run into these
problems.  Moving to 4X5 can help solve the problem, but "help" is the
key word.

Another thing to keep in mind is that since we're later in the year, the
amount of IR will change, and so will your results.  Some fun, huh? <g>

george

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Topic No. 12