Re: HIE/Xtol problems

[Gary Beasley <beasleyglb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 17:44:02 -0600
>From: David Riecks <riecks@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: HIE and Xtol, ghost of an image?
>
>What are others using for exposure index and dilution/development time with
>HIE and Xtol?
>
>I had shot some HIE a few months ago and did some test head to head with
>D-76. I liked the look of the negs better, as the highlights were less
>extreme and they were fairly easy to print. 
>
>All seemed well and good except the last three rolls I've shot came out
>ghost like with the image all but missing. At first I thought this might be
>exhausted chemistry, so I mixed a fresh batch. Second roll, with new Xtol
>chemistry...same problem. Though I did notice that I did have shadow detail
>(faint as it was) it simply looked as though the midtones and highlight
>
Has anybody checked the ph of the emulsion itself in relation to the
developer? Or the ph of the water or developer both before and after
development at the time this happens? Something tells me there is an
interaction problem between the elements of this setup and seeing how
regular film has no problems I would think the emulsion has something in it
that doesn't agree with Xtol under all conditions.
Do you do a presoak? If not try it and as a matter of curiosity check the
ph before and after on that water, especially if this corrects the problem.
If there is anything coming out of the film at a certain ph or other
condition it would be interesting to know what it is and what it does.
Alternately if you already do a presoak, with tap water then try presoaking
in distilled water instead. That would eliminate any undesirable mineral
byproducts that might be causing this.
It goes without saying Xtol does better mixed with distilled water in this
case, as many areas have seasonal mineral problems as they switch water
supplies from lake to well or vice versa.
Gary Beasley
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