Developing Ilford XP2 400 Plus (C41) as regular......B&W?

[Bill Clark]

Here is a good article on the Ilford web site:

https://www.ilfordphoto.com/ilford-xp2-super-in-black-and-white-chemistry/

I learned a new technique today, at least new to me, as I didn’t realize XP2 could be developed in B&W chemistry.

 

[dourbalistar]

Here is a good article on the Ilford web site:

https://www.ilfordphoto.com/ilford-xp2-super-in-black-and-white-chemistry/

I learned a new technique today, at least new to me, as I didn’t realize XP2 could be developed in B&W chemistry.

Yes, that article was written by RFF member chrism, mentioned above. I also found another recent article on Ilford's website that has some more information about developing XP2 in black and white chemistry:

https://www.ilfordphoto.com/processing-xp2s-in-black-and-white-chemistry/

 

[das]

Serious question -- does developing XP2 in b&w chemistry provide any benefit in terms of results to C-41? Or is it just a matter of the convenience of doing it at home? To me, XP2's primary benefit is the fact it can be cheaply machine-processed with mostly consistent results.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

Serious question -- does developing XP2 in b&w chemistry provide any benefit in terms of results to C-41? Or is it just a matter of the convenience of doing it at home? To me, XP2's primary benefit is the fact it can be cheaply machine-processed with mostly consistent results.

I've not seen "cheaply machine-processed".... and "consistent results" at the same time. Spotting prints isn't my favourite thing to do.... so i stopped using XP2.

 

[KoNickon]

Yes, I am very interested in hearing the answer to this. I have a good local lab that could do either b&w or C-41, so the relative merits of each process will be good to know.

 

[das]

I've not seen "cheaply machine-processed".... and "consistent results" at the same time. Spotting prints isn't my favourite thing to do.... so i stopped using XP2.

I don't understand. My local lab produces consistent results with C41 film every time for years with a Fuji Frontier machine. Does your lab not deliver quality results? And because XP2 scans as color with digital ICE, there is no "dust" to remove.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

I don't understand. My local lab produces consistent results with C41 film every time for years with a Fuji Frontier machine. Does your lab not deliver quality results? And because XP2 scans as color with digital ICE, there is no "dust" to remove.

Davidde My 'local lab' is 1.5 hrs away. After some initial scratched and not so clean results, i process all my fim (BW) myself.

 

[das]

Davidde My 'local lab' is 1.5 hrs away. After some initial scratched and not so clean results, i process all my fim (BW) myself.

Ok -- that makes sense. I wish it was like the old days when practically everyone in the country had a C41 machine within 5 minutes of their current location.

 

[Bill Clark]

does developing XP2 in b&w chemistry provide any benefit in terms of results to C-41?

For me, I don’t use color film or print color in my analog darkroom in color any more.

The only use I have for C-41 chemistry is developing film like Ilfords XP2 Plus.
C-41 needs a temperature higher than any black and white developer I use. With Freestyles Arista kit it’s 102 degrees for the initial water soak and developer. And the rest have a variance temp. Actually I find C-41 developing is easier than black and white developers as it is just one chemistry, different brands.

The main benefit for me is eliminating C-41 chemistry from my stash of chemicals. The working solutions have a short life as compared to the black and white chemistry I use. And the black and white chemistry is much less expensive.

 

[David Murphy]

I did it accidentally with HC110 once and as I recall I got pretty good results! Sort of amazing really.

 

[seany65]

I think I remember reading, years ago, that xp2 processed in normal B+w chemistry gave the prints a slight sepia tone. I take it that is not correct?

 

[v0sh]

XP2 in HC-110

 

[dourbalistar]

Another from my first experiment roll cross processing XP2 Super. Even though most of the roll was moderately to slightly underexposed, the results are surprisingly clean and almost totally grain free. Zooming in does not seem to show increased grain. Click through to Flickr to embiggen. 😉

Pentax 6x7, S-M-C Takumar 6x7 105mm f/2.4, Ilford XP2 Super (expired 2017), developed in LegacyPro L110 at 1:49 for 10 minutes.


2021.03.06 Roll #272-05992-Pano-positive.jpg by dourbalistar, on Flickr