[Leica] grainy t-max 100

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

On 4/16/04 12:21 PM, "Tom Schofield" <leicaluvr@comcast.net> wrote:

> People think that T-Max developer is what was designed to go with T-Max
> film, but is really a high energy developer for push processing that
> came along later.  My results were similar to yours.  Kodak perfected
> T-Max's image quality in D-76.  Try D-76 diluted, or that Vitamin C
> stuff Mark Rabiner likes.
> 
> Tom Schofield
> 125 St. Patricks Drive
> Danville, CA 94526
> 
> Subject: [Leica] grainy t-max 100
> 
> Okay, I showed a few of my T-MAX 100 images to a friend who observed
> that there
> was more grain in them than he had ever seen. "I like the effect but how
> did
> you do it."
> 
> Uhhh....I wasn't shooting for grain. Now it might be that, as I asked
> before,
> that I was processing with old pre-diluted T-Max developer.
> 
> But I was wondering what else I might have done?
> 
> I'm following the Kodak recomendation of 7 fast inversions every 30
> seconds.
> 
> I was processing at 68 F instead of 75 F.
> 
> anyway...thoughts?
> 
> thanks
> 
> Adam
> 
> 

Or add a tab of vitamin c to your D76 for extra flavor just make sure its
not pink Flintstones brand and the kids are around. And thirsty.
I'm actually not kidding it probably would make for some better results.
The only time I've ever seen any grain with Tmax 100 is with Rodinal 1:75.
Anything else you'd not see grain in 8x10's without a loupe and maybe if you
have real good eyesight with an 11x14.
With a "mush" high sulfite developer dilution like D76 1:1 (try it 1:2) I'd
like to hear if anyone's seeing grain because it goes against my experience.
D76 sure looks better with Tmax films than the Tmax developer did when it
first came out at least.

The idea of modifying a popular formula with an added simple chemical is
often a good one. For instance add 10gms of Glycin or a small spoonful to
your tray of Dektol and you'll in effect get the legendary Ansco/Gaf 130.
This MQ-Gycin paper develop rivals the results you'd get from Amidol in all
respects. Just not the black fingernails. But add at least another minute to
your tray times to really get the blackest blacks you'd ever think your
paper could ever produce. Including warm tone papers which will look quite
cool. This is what we used when the only quality paper out there in 1980
during the silver scandal was Agfa Portriga. And not everyone liked the warm
thing. I used Brovira at the time despite it's lessoned reputation.


Mark Rabiner
Photography
Portland Oregon



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