How to judge your negative (was Re: Times and Temperatures)

[njshih@xxxxxxxxxxx (N. Remi Shih)]

Hi everyone,

Since there are so many debates about the developing time, temp, and
developers, I cannot help to ask a silly question here.

How to judge the IR negative without making contact sheet, enlargement...?
I can used a loupe to look at the negative (in a way that I checked my color
slides).  But I am confused about "fine grain", "details" and "contrast".
Shouldn't a developer that gives fine grain will also give more details and
render as "sharp" images?  Try to explain this to me please:  "HIE developed
in XXX for XX min at XX C gives a sharp image but it's much grainer than CCC
developer".

Anyway, I have developed my first HIE by using the developer that my local
photoshop guy picked for me and because I do not have a darkroom, I never
know my processed HIE is, uh, acceptable or just a piece of plastic.  Any
suggestions?

Thanks.


N. Remi Shih
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Topic No. 4