Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/03/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]on 14/3/00 5:55 am, Dan S at dstate1@hotmail.com wrote: > That said, why do many photographers dilute? What advantage does this > practice give? Is this just economizing or are there performance advantages > I have not realized? Dilution gives (marginally, often) more sharpness and highlight compensation, with (marginally) more grain. It's a toss up. I think Xtol is a very slightly soft developer, and the grain is just slightly smushy, so the dilution puts it right into the sweet spot. But being honest I also do it because it's the most efficient use of Xtol... if you use stock you end up throwing away still-active developer. - -- Johnny Deadman photos: http://www.pinkheadedbug.com music: http://www.jukebox.demon.co.uk