I've started using HP5+ developed in PMK, using Gordon Hutchings recommended time, in a Jobo inversion small tank. The negs have sufficient density and fairly vigourous contrast as far as I can see. There is more overall fog than I'm used to (density probably approx 0.4 based on spot meter readings through blank frame) and the colour of the image is rather like that of a warm tone paper.(posted 8517 days ago)I'm not yet able to print them. I realise that only by printing will I know how good they are, but I was a little surprised to see an image colour that didn't fit descriptions I've seen like "yellow" or "olive". I was expecting more dramatic stain. There is no sign of unevenness.
I used water stop (2 min), Agfa FX-Universal fixer (alkaline, see recent thread for advice to use this), soak in used developer (2 min), 20min rinse, minimal Photo-Flo. TF-4 is not available here (Australia) and it will take me a while to get some.
The only thing I did differently to most people was to use 500mL of standard PMK per film, not 250mL. I did this because I had read conflicting advice somewhere about whether G.H.'s stated capacity for standard PMK (250mL for a 35mm film)was actually sufficient. Less developer would have possibly given me less contrast, as a result of exhaustion. Would it have given more stain as a result of higher oxidation?
I know I should try it, but maybe someone can tell me if what I've got is normal. My darkroom is nearly ready, but I have a few more films to develop.