Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/11/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Feli, developing is easy. Just get a few variables down pat: 1) Exposure index 2) Temperature 3) Agitation Like Mark, I have no problems with tap water and Xtol. I do filter the water, but that is only to get the little particles of crap out of the water so that they don't dry on my negatives. If you are not using a thermometer, it is impossible to say anything. My guess is that your temperature is more like 17 or 18 degrees rather than 20 (65 F rather than 68). Xtol doesn't really care what temperature you use, as long as you adjust the times accordingly. The two stick together likes birds of a feather. Without knowing your temperature, you will never be able to get consistent results. I had to underexpose a bit when using Tri-X last week (EI 640) since I had neither light nor Neopan 1600, but I was using 13 minutes at 1:2, not 1:1: http://folk.uio.no/danielr/payday I'm not looking for bullet-proof negatives. If you get too thick and contrasty negatives, it will be hard to scan them (I only scan now-a-days). Even when printing in the darkroom, I was satisfied with #3 or #3 1/2 filters. (I'd much rather prefer #3 Portriga Rapid, but that's just dreaming). So get a thermometer and let us know how you're doing. Don't make a judgement about the negatives until you've printed them. That is what counts. Daniel On 11/29/05, feli <feli2@earthlink.net> wrote: > > On Nov 28, 2005, at 5:23 PM, Richard wrote: > > > Probably?!!!??? Where's your thermometer? :-) (I know they cannot > > be 100% accurate unless you only have one....) > > > > > Yes, I have one. I'll check it next time, but no developer I have > previously used > yelped at my regular tap water. > ;-) > > feli