I've developed Plus X Pan 120 in PMK and got two troubles :

1)using the digitaltruth developing chart(PMK 1+2+100, 10 minutes), I've found PXP sligtly underdeveloped (next time I'll try 12 minutes..)

2)the "brown" image stain is very limited (the blue coating of PXP is still remaining)

Does somebody have advice or experience on PXP processing in PMK and how to increase image stain ?

my processing is based on G.Hutchings's "Book of Pyro" : pre-soak (1 minute) ; PMK 1+2+100 (agitation every 15 seconds) ; plain water stop bath (4 changes) ; TF4 fixer (4 minutes) ; running water (20 minutes) ; using distilled water for pre-soak, pmk, stop bath, fixer and final rinse

I wish a happy new year to all Forum readers and contributors and, of course, to our best moderator ED

jean-bernard

-- Jean-Bernard Roux (jeanbernard.roux@voila.fr), December 27, 2001

Answers

There is an additional development step. That is when the developer plates the silver. Read Hutchings book again.

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), December 29, 2001.

I haven't used Plus-X, but I was unhappy about the level of stain in my HP5+ negs. The descriptions of the stain led me to expect a more conspicuous amount. My stain was a pleasant brown, not the "yellow- green" that others described. I was judging the negs by sight, not printing. However, a wise person on this forum suggested that I print them, and I was a lot happier then. PMK negs don't have to be dense to be good.

Have you got less stain than other films that you have processed in PMK? Plus-X is supposed to stain readily.

Also, the soak after fixing in the used developer (or other alkaline solution) is supposed to increase stain. I do it, but I've never measured the difference.

Also, there is a variation in the quality of pyro. The quote below is from Gordon Hutchings himself on the "pure-silver" newsgroup (07- September-2001) in response to an enquiry from someone with brown stain:

Reply from Gordon Hutchings:

Brown stain is just fine. Film emulsion components especially the makeup of the gelatin can make a big difference in th stain. Other environmental conditions such as water as well as the industrial residuals left over from the pyro manufacture can make a big difference. Commercial pyro is only 90 to 95 percent prue pyro. the 'rest' is the 'rest of the story.'

end of transmission...

-- john stockdale (jo.sto@bigpond.com), December 30, 2001.