Posts in Category: Xtol
Silver Alchemy – Xtol Plus Rodinal Part II
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| Overheard on the street: “My dad say I should remarry him” Kodak Tri-x developed 5min. Xtol 1:2 and then 4 min. Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:115 25c |
This is a short update on my original article of adding Rodinal to Xtol. I have been adding Rodinal to Xtol to good effect since 2010.
So why change now? With a purchase of a higher resolution 35mm scanner I’m finding that I want even more control both of the grain and of the compensation in the shadow areas. While I can do it by controlling the ratio of Rodinal to Xtol it becomes a bit tricky to manage all parameters especially when it comes to temperature compensation.
In the last few months through a series of experiments I have come up with this variation on my original method which gives both good results and fine control.
Set up the dilution ratio of Xtol as normal. I try to keep the normal developing times between 7 to no more than 16 minutes. For the last 4 minutes I pour the xtol into a container that has had rodinal added, then pour it back onto the film and then develop the remaining 4 minutes.
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| Mohawk In Support Of Maggie’s: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project Same roll as above |
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| Still Mine Kodak Kodak TMAX 400 developed: 5min. Xtol 1:1.125 and 4 min. Xtol 1:1.125 + Rodinal 1:115 at 22c |
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| Fresh Air Fomapan Action 200 developed: 5min. Xtol 1:1.125 and 4 min. Xtol 1:1.125 + Rodinal 1:115 at 20c |
Silver Alchemy – Xtol Plus Rodinal
There is a certain modern retro look that I have in my mind for a portrait project I have in the works. The Lomo 120 ISO 100 film AKA Shanghai GP3 looks like a possible film for the project For the developer I would like to use Xtol. Xtol looks good but seem to lack a bit of an edge. Xtol’s primary component is vitamin C and vitamin C is compatible with Rodinal. The idea (from apug) is that a pinch of Rodinal in Xtol adds a bit of edge definition which is normally absent because of the solvent action of the Xtol. So this might be just what is needed.
http://www.unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Rodinal/rodinal.html
http://www.apug.org/forums/viewpost.php?p=959820
New update on the process can be found here: silver-alchemy-xtol-plus-rodinal-part-ii
It’s a balance between grain and highlights with the Rodinal and shadow detail with the Xtol. The 2 developers just happen to be chemically and PH compatible. But Xtol is a solvent compensating developer while Rodinal is not.
I use around a 2 minute water presoak at the same temperature as the developer and standard agitation (first 30 seconds and a couple of seconds every 2 to 3 minutes thereafter). So far in an unscientific sampling it looks like I’m on the right track. Very happy with the results:
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| Kodak TMAX 400 “Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 10.5 minutes 19c” Xtol was meant to be the dominant component yet with the tmax 400 I can see a definite difference in the highlights over xtol alone. I know by my scanning histograms compared to previous work with xtol and TMAX that the DMAX has increased with more highlights and midtone details then what would normally be seen with xtol alone while the shadows are pretty normal for xtol 1:2. |
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| Fuji Neopan 400 “Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 12.5 minutes 19c” It is less clear that there is any benefit to adding Rodinal to Xtol when developing Fuji Neopan 400 at box speed. I suspect that because it is easy to block shadows with Neopan 400 at box speed using 1:2 Xtol instead of my normal 1:1 Xtol the shadows are closing obscuring any benefits of adding the Rodinal. Upping the Xtol to 1:1 seems to give better results. |
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| Neopan at 400 souped in xtol 1:1 plus rodinal 1:112 for 9 minutes19c |
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| HP5 at 400 souped in xtol 1:1 plus rodinal 1:135 for 9.5 minutes19c HP5 is a difficult nut to crack The first time was far too grainy. The second time worked much better very sharp maybe even too much acuity. |
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| Shanghai GP3 developed in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 15 minutes at 19c. |
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| Shanghai GP3 developed in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 15 minutes at 19c. |
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| Shanghai GP3 developed in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 14 minutes at 19c. |
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| Shanghai GP3 developed in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 14 minutes at 19c. Hard to see at this resolution but good sharp details with the snow grains and just a touch of blotchyness in the deep shadows. Looking pretty good but I need to get a better baseline before I can make any conclusions. |
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| Shanghai GP3 in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:100 for 10 minutes 27c, pushed +1 shot at ISO 160 |
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Tri-X 320p “Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 12.2 minutes 20c
Tri-X 320P shows good dynamic range and retention of highlight
details in this high contrast snow scene with only a slight blocking of deep shadows. |
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| Fomapan Action 400 in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:100 for 9 minutes 19c |
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| Fomapan 100 in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 9 minutes 20c |
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| Tri-X 400 at 500 souped in xtol 1:1.7 plus rodinal 1:100 for 9.5 minutes at 23c |
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| Ilford Delta 3200 at ISO 3200 souped in xtol 1:2 plus rodinal 1:100 for 11 minutes at 25c (Pretty smooth for ISO 3200) |