Re: x-tol developer and tri-x400

[Randolph Carlisle <carlisle@shentel.net>]

Robert Brummett wrote:
> 
> >Hi friends:
> >
> >Some months ago, in the LUG there was an interesting thread on developers.
> >There was somebody that pointed out the new Kodak x-tol developer, and seemed
> >to have quite an expertise in using it.
> >I started using it, and although I already prefer it to my former T-max
> >developer, I still have some black holes.
> >
> >Could this person please tell me what does it change to use it at full
> >strength, or at each of the different dilutions? I find the info that kodak
> >has on the internet, insufficient.
> >
> >Also, when I use it at full strength(supposedly reusable for an amount of
> >rolls) and keep it in the common black plastic bottle, when I want to reuse it
> >for the second time, after some days, it has a grey color, totally different
> >from the transparent color it had after the first use. Is this normal? If it
> >is not, I am worried that it could be my chrome M6 dying its color into the
> >negatives and them to the developer.
> >
> >P.S: As you see IT IS a Leica-related message  : )
> >
> >
> >        Nicolas Levinton. Madrid. SPAIN
> >        nlevintonm.i-solev@nexo.es
> 
> Nicolas-
> 
> You may be seeing the residue of anti-halation (and perhaps other) dyes
> from the film you have developed. I use, and recommend, a water pre-soak
> immediately preceding development. In addition to removing some of the
> dyes, this pre-soak renders the film more amenable to even development and
> helps toprevent airbells. I doubt that the discoloration represents any
> serious problem, BUT it is just another reason to consider going to a
> developer that allows fresh, mix-on-the-spot, one-shot doses.
> 
> Robert
Nicolas:
If you are going to pre-soak, you will probably need to increase your
development time about 20%
Randolph