Response to Developer of Choice for 4x5 T-Max 400?

I have found success with this film in 4x5 and 5x7 with Ilford ID11 mixed diluted 1:3. Very clean, sharp & predictable. The longer times(13.75 min/75degrees in a jobo 6 shooter type processing drum) help here. I can develop longer or shorter to suit the contrast range of the original scene with no problems. My number one problem with the TMax films was solved with the use of the bigger jobo processing drum-even skies. With the smaller tanks I always had trouble. Now it is consistent. I pre-soak with 2 washes, the first for 3 min and the second for 2. Then develop, stop with a very, very dilute acetic acid stop bath and then 2 bath fix(non hardening rapid fix), rinse & treat for 5 min in Heico Perma Wash, and final rinse for 10-15 minutes. Very repeatable results & very clean. I use the chemicals once & dump, other than the fixer. When I get Highlights that really soar, I plan on one of two solutions. First, 00 Ilford filters and some burning if needed. Second, a contrast mask. It is a real pain to do but works very well. Luckily I don't need it often. But, after reading Howard Bond's articles in Photo Techniques I might start using it more often. He is certainly having success with it.

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