Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Tri-X is a very sharp film, with > proper development. Yes, but the resolution is not very high, because the grain interferes with the resolution of small details. > Also, grain can be reduced substantially, > again, with proper development...like D-76 > 1:1. I typically develop in straight D-76. Slight overexposure seems to improve grain (i.e., make it less obvious); I recover from the overexposure in scanning, not in development, and it is important not to overdo it. > How do you develop it? Please be > precise. Straight D-76, following Kodak's instructions exactly, usually at 22-24 degrees Celsius (adjusting development time to match ambient temperature). I get better results (less contrast, less grain) than my one-hour lab, which uses some sort of high-speed Ilford chemistry for their B&W development; however, the grain is still pretty easy to see, especially in shadow areas. > Also, how large are you printing that this > is causing you a 'problem'? If it caused me a problem, I wouldn't use Tri-X. It simply rules out cropping; the image is visibly more coarse when cropped, such that you can tell that you're not looking at the full frame. Fortunately, I almost never crop, anyway. In a full 35mm image viewed at one time, the grain is typically not very intrusive. You just can't look up very close. If I need resolution and fine grain, I shoot Tech Pan, even though it is very slow and a pain to develop (APX 25 is no longer an option).