Ryan's Photo Blog

Category: Xtol

  • Silver Alchemy – Xtol Plus Rodinal Part II

    Silver Alchemy – Xtol Plus Rodinal Part II

    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.

    Mohawk In Support Of Maggie’s: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project
    Same roll as above

    Still Mine
    Kodak Kodak TMAX 400 developed: 5min. Xtol 1:1.125 and 4 min. Xtol 1:1.125 + Rodinal 1:115 at 22c  
    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:

    Sunset On High Park's Grenadier Pond
    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.

    New Cafe In Cabbagetown
    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.

    Aspen
    Neopan at 400 souped in xtol 1:1 plus rodinal 1:112 for 9 minutes19c

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    In and Out of Focus
    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.
    Columns Hide Smoker
    Shanghai GP3 developed in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 15 minutes at 19c.

     

    Behind The Columns
    Shanghai GP3 developed in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 15 minutes at 19c.

    Test Bench
    Shanghai GP3 developed in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 14 minutes at 19c.

    Chip Wagon
    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.

    Pedestrian Sunday At Kensington Market
    Shanghai GP3 in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:100 for 10 minutes 27c,  pushed +1 shot at ISO 160

    Thing in Snow
    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.

    Living Outdoors
    Fomapan Action 400 in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:100 for 9 minutes 19c
    Danger Lurks In Toronto Ravines Beware Of The Killer Giant Hogweed
    Fomapan 100 in Xtol 1:2 + Rodinal 1:112 for 9 minutes 20c
     
    Little Italy
    Tri-X 400 at 500 souped in xtol 1:1.7 plus rodinal 1:100 for 9.5 minutes at 23c

    Portrait Of A Jazz Musician - 2011 Beaches Jazz Festival
    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)