Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/08/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]mark, johnny, tina, ted and others.... i read of the 1:1 and 1:3 dilutions, but no one ever mentions 1:2. i have been using xtol in a 1:2 dilution and have been very pleased. is there a reason i should know of for why no one else ever mentions/uses xtol 1:2? right now, during the summer months in nashville, i have to use it at 80 degrees.....it works great for me..... thanks in advance.... kim At 02:51 PM 8/15/2000 -0400, you wrote: >on 15/8/00 1:13 pm, Dan Honemann at ddh@home.com wrote: > >> Dear Ted, Mark, Tina, Johnny and other Xtol advocates: >> >> I plan to start experimenting with Xtol now that I've learned how to process >> my own film. I'll start with Tri-X and Delta 100 emulsions. Can you please >> share your recipe for times, temps, agitation periods, etc. when using Xtol >> to process these films? >> >> All I know at this point is that 1:3 seems to be the right dilution. > >1:3 is ideal so long as you have room in your tank! Each film needs 400 ml >of dilute developer so 5 rolls is all you can do in an 8-roll 2l tank (you >can figure out the math for other tank sizes yourself!) > >1:1 is *almost* as good and I use it whenever I have more than 5 rolls to >dunk at a time. The main difference is slightly larger grain with the 1:1 >(this is counterintuitive but true) plus slightly less sharpness and less >compression of tones (useful) due to compensating effect of very dilute >developer in 1:3 soup. > >I use the times recommended in the kodak datasheet for everything except >Tmax films. Some people get good results at the stated times for these >films: others like me find they have to add 20-25% to get an acceptable >result. You need to run a test if you are using these films. > >1:1 I agitate 7-8s each minute (a twist and three gentle inversions), with >30s at the beginning. > >1:3 I agitate the same, except for the last 6 minutes or so I only agitate >once every 2 mins, sometimes only once in the last 3 mins. This is just >personal voodoo as I think it builds up shadow detail and >sharpness-enhancing edge effects but I could be totally wrong. > >That's it! It's so easy it's a sin. > >-- >Johnny Deadman > >http://www.pinkheadedbug.com