Controling development with semi automated processing ... questions?

[Keith]

With automated processing of roll film with a tank and rollers or in my case using a Paterson Orbital for 4x5 how does one control development?

ie ... If I want less contrast to control highlights and give more shadow detail or more contrast for negs that may have been shot on a very flat dull day how do I achieve this result?

With this type of processing you can't really alter agitation because it's set ... in fact it's constant and has to be because when stationary the system doesn't cover the negatives totally.

I'm confused!

 

[Beemermark]

Increase contrast by increasing film speed and increasing development time. Decrease by doing the opposite.

 

[Finder]

You really only have three options:

Development time

Development temperature

Developer and developer concentration

The time is usually the easiest to control. I use a Jobo rotary processor.