Xtol 1+1 with... times and experience

[sojournerphoto]

I'm just about to try some xtol 1+1 with FP4+, HP5+ and also I've a couple of rolls of Tmax 400 and Acros 100 to try (as I've not used them before).

Could anyone advise on sensible starting times at box speed or thereabouts and what experience you have of grain, acutance and tonality.

Thanks

Mike

 

[Keith]

One thing I've learned to do with Xtol and many developers is agitate very little and reduce recommended developing times by around 20% ... for scanning I'm talking about of course ... I realise wet printing has different requirements.

Xtol and HP5+ has never been a happy combo for me unless I'm pushing the Ilford to 800 or 1600 ... it always seems to produce a rather flat muddy negative at 400.

 

[Tim Gray]

I use the times in the XTOL pdf for 1:1. It works fine for me - both in the darkroom and scanning. There are a few times in there which are obvious typos, but everything that I've tried works fine.

 

[Larry Manuel]

Some help here:

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/xtol/

 

[totifoto]

I have used xtol 1:1 and Tmax 400 alot. 9 minutes @ 20C° and agitating 4 times every minute woks well.

 

[Freakscene]

9 (less contrast) - 9.5 (more contrast) minutes at 1+1 works well for me with Acros. I generally expose it at about EI @80.

Squid, Ceduna Jetty, April 2007. Leica M7, 75 Summilux. Acros, Xtol 1+1.

Marty

 

[sojournerphoto]

Thanks all

I'll decide ona regime and see what works. I'm actually quite interested to see how HP5 looks as I really don't like it in Rodinal, but do in Aculux (still a bit muddy...)

Mike

 

[martin s]

That's my standard combination, HP5+ and XTOL. I dilute the developer to 1+1 and use 13 minutes at 20°C with 10 seconds initial agitation, and 10 seconds every other minute. I agitate 4 times in those 10 seconds, so rather fast turns. Scan's really well, prints fine also.

martin

 

[venchka]

GOOGLE knows. The most complete listing of films, times, dilution and developing procedures (rotary even) is the German Kodak Technical Bulletin. GOOGLE can find it on the Unofficial Xtol pages. I use those numbers all the time with Xtol 1:1 and a lot of different film. Most recently, Arista Premium 100. Yes, it is Plus-X. Kodak's time for Plus-X worked perfectly. The list includes under and over exposed times too.

HP5+, 120 & 4x5, in Xtol 1:3 is gorgeous.

 

[sojournerphoto]

Again, thanks everyone. I've got half a dozen test rolls haning to dry, buthere's a scan off the first. Acros EI100 Xtol 1+1 9 minutes agitate every 2. I think in these high contrast conditions I might give it a bit more exposure and less development next time (i've pulled the highlights back slightly and lifted the shadows), but overall very pleased. Also made a nice 15 by 10 print and grain is really minimal. Scanned on an LS5000.

Mike

 

[dfoo]

I've processed the last few rolls in undiluted XTOL, which I've been replenishing with 70-80ml of fresh XTOL. For Plus-X I used 8 minutes, which results in very thick negs. I think 7 minutes would be better. For Neopan 100 I used 8 minutes, which was just right. I used 30 seconds agitation at the start (1 inversion every second), and then for 10s (5 inversions) each minute. Very nice negatives!