Hello: I am seeking a low contrast developer for Technical Pan like Technidol or TD-3 that will work effectively and consistently with a rotary tube. Any insight

-- Anthony Blanding (jamsyncmedia@hotmail.com), May 07, 2001

Answers

I assume you have already review Kodak's pub on this, found at: http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/p255/p255 .shtml#09

The concern I have is the frequency of agitation you'll get with the rotary tank. In my experience, agitation is critical for Tech Pan. There is certainly no reference by Kodak to processing TP in a tube. I guess you'll just have to experiment. Maybe somebody has already tried it that way. I too would be interested in hearing any actual experience doing it that way.

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), May 07, 2001.

You might try C-41 developer; I've found it to give streak-free negs in fairly vigorous intermittent inversion agitation. Never tried it in a tube though.

Around 7'/68F EI 16 or so would be a reasonable starting point.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), May 07, 2001.

Technidol works fine in a rotary tube for the ordinary recommended times. The weird agitation scheme Kodak lays out for Technidol apparently has to do with the developer "frothing" rather than any chemical problem.

I would NOT use stop bath if you do Tech Pan in a rotary tube. The only TP negatives I have with pinholes came from a rotary tube.

-- John O'Connell (boywonderiloveyou@hotmail.com), May 08, 2001.

Thanks for the info, John. I hadn't heard why our Great Yellow Father suggested such a weird agitation scheme! I'll try it too, now.

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), May 08, 2001.

I wanted to update everyone interested in this thread that I spoke to Kodak and Photographer's Formulary. Kodak advised Technidol development for 8 minutes @ 68 degrees in a rotary tube for 'normal' contrast negatives. Photographer's Formulary advised TD-3 development for 12 minutes @ 68 degrees in rotary tube. PF also said that rotary tube processing was not their prefered method since it increases the overall contrast somewhat. What do you think of these recommendations?

These recommenations notwithstanding, I am still interested in your personal experiences both sublime and ridiculous with rotary tube processing of Tech Pan (especially in TD-3)... 'so keep those cards and letters coming'!

Thanks Very Much,

Anthony

-- Anthony Blanding (jamsyncmedia@hotmail.com), May 10, 2001.