Developer for Tri-X

[alexM]

Thinking of trying Tri-X 400. What developer would you recommend?

Thanks,
Alex

Why such a simple in theory thing like a film development, has to have so many pitfalls? :bang:

 

[Keith]

Personally I always liked the look I got with Rodinal. Unless I was pushing it then I tended to use Xtol which tends to tame the grain better.

 

[Corran]

Any developer will work great. More importantly is what you are looking for in terms of speed, grain, tonality, etc.

I love Tri-X in Acufine, for a speed of anything between 400 and 1000 or so. It also has lovely tonality in SPUR HRX with less grain, but it takes a hit in speed - I rate it at 250 in SPUR. I used to like it with Rodinal but I don't get any advantage with it. For a compromise between speed and grain XTOL is good - I usually rate it at 500 in XTOL.

Try some things and you'll figure out a process that works for you. There is no right answer.

 

[p.giannakis]

I have used only Rodinal and HC-110. I prefer the Hc-110 because it is less grainy but Rodinal and Tri-X is considered to be classic. Check my blog for more samples.

Some pictures:

With Rodinal:

With HC-110:

With Rodinal (this seems to have been affected by Flickr's downsizing):

And HC-110:

 

[mfogiel]

The obvious thing you should do first, is try D76 1+1. After you've nailed this, if you really feel compelled, you can try something else. Some great photographers never used anything else.

M7, Summilux 50 pre asph, Tri X @250, D76 1+1

20153920 by marek fogiel, on Flickr

 

[Fotohuis]

Tri-X 400 is a very flexible film.
A classic is D-76 1+1. But if you do not want to mess around with a powder developer: HC-110.

I can give you over 5 more good Tri-X - film developers combinations but that will only made the choice more complicated.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Tri-X works well in almost any developer. D-76 1+1 is considered the 'classic' developer for Tri-X, and it is my favorite, but there are times I like the gritty look of Tri-X in Rodinal. I use Tmax developer sometimes, if I don't have any D-76 ready and don't feel like spending the time to dissolve more D-76 powder. It looks nice in Tmax Developer, too.

 

[ColColt]

I never liked Tri-X with D-76-too much Sodium Sulfite in the mix. HC-110 and Tri-X is like FP-4 and Rodinal...a marriage in heaven.

 

[nightfly]

Rodinal period

 

[Antielectrons]

Rodinal always looks artifical to my eye... D76 is what most people have used over the years. Concentrate on your photography. What developer you use is almost irrelevant.

 

[jordan.dickinson]

Rodinal or Adonal for me. Super easy to develop and a nice grainy look in my opinion.

 

[nightfly]

Unless you see the world in black and white I'm not quite sure what "artificial" means in this context. All photography, particularly black and white is artificial.

Depends what you like. I feel like if you're shooting black and white film, particularly at this point in time historically, you are doing so to achieve a very purposeful look and your developer plays a big part in that. Artificial, artistic call it what you like.

I love high contrast and lots of grain so Rodinal at 1:25 is pretty standard for me. But diluted 1:50 or 1:100 and given stand development you can get some other very different looks.

If you can get yourself a copy of the Darkroom by Lustrum Press, it has great examples of different photographers and what developers and techniques they use to get their particularly look.

In general liquid developers are a little easier to deal with than powders and Rodinal keeps a long time and can really change depending on time and concentration. HC-110 is also very nice to use and can give a variety of looks depending on dilutions and times. I always found D-76 kinda blah. Does everything fine but nothing particularly well but it is very much a matter of taste.

 

[kxl]

Tri-X with D76 was how I learned in High School.

I develop Tri-X in XTOL these days, but it's getting to be a bit inconvenient for me to use it. I have a few more bags of XTOL, but that will probably be my last.

As a concentrated liquid developer, HC-110 is just so convenient.

 

[jbielikowski]

Tri-X@800 in T-MAX (or Ultrafin Plus etc.) and you have quite a headroom for exposure with nice tonality and grain.

 

[gb hill]

If you are new to B&W film developing then D-76 is the way to go. HC-110 is good too if money is a factor. Rodinal will give you grain & for me it I'm still trying to get it right. Having fun trying though. 😀 My favorite developer is Ilford Perceptol. it's a fine grain developer that looks wonderful with films like Pan F 50 & the Arista 100 ISO films.

 

[smk]

I have been using Tri-X in DD-X for about 10 years now, and I am very happy with the look, modern yet classic.

 

[charjohncarter]

Rodinal for me is too grainy for Trix in 35mm, but is OK with 120. D-76 is great with Trix, but you have to mix and store and hope it doesn't go bad. HC-110 is good with grain and is one shot, but maybe some don't like the results (tonally). Other developers have sudden death, or are allergy prone, etc. So even though I used D-76 for years and switched to HC-110 just for convenience, I'm just as happy when I got the time, the film speed, and the agitation right. Take your pick: establish your development scheme and if you can't live with the result try another. After all is said, it is your style and that is what is important.