Developing rolls is getting faster and smoother

[David_Manning]

My process for Tri-X is shaking out with some practice.

This morning, developed two rolls of Tri-X in a dual-reel tank, and from opening the canisters to hanging to dry...thirty-five minutes.

Previously, it was $6/roll for develop-only at a pro lab downtown, which is 30 minutes' drive time each way. So, $12 in lab fees, $8 in gas, an hour for drop off, an hour two days from now for pickup...I'd say I'm way in the black!

 

[mfunnell]

I'd say I'm way in the black!

Before you even mention the control over the process and the satisfaction of doing it!

...Mike

 

[Borghesia]

Exactly also my reason for choosing DIY development.
Now do the same trick with C41, and you will be totally independent.

 

[David_Manning]

I'll have to look into C-41. Is it as temperature-sensitive?

 

[Borghesia]

It's easy, can be done in the kitchensink.
You only have to manage a bath temperature of 38C / 68f , for your developer for 3,15 minutes.
The next chemical is called "Blix" and is less temp sensitive (6 min.).
After that a water rinse for 3 minutes
And at last a stabilizer rinse for one minute.
A roll can be developed in 15 minutes. With a cheap C41 kit, it will cost you aprox. $1,- a roll.

 

[dufffader]

I just did 3 rolls today. tri-x in rodinal. had a couple of rolls overexposed by at least a stop, perhaps more due to a weak battery on my rangefinder. All I had to do was to develop it at ISO200 instead of the standard 400, and the wet negatives look fine. Glad I do DIY!

 

[Borghesia]

Great job !
Rodinal and Tri-x is too tough for me, I always get terrible grain, I must do something wrong.

 

[wgerrard]

My own Tri-X and XTOL adventures are settling down, too. Managed to do a roll earlier today at a temp of 70 F. Usually, it's been at 76 or 78.

I've been adjusting agitation rates and intensity to see what happens. For scanning, 4 gentle inversions every 30 seconds seems to work. I deliberately bumped up the agitation of one role and, sure enough, it looked it.

I also started doing my own b&w when the local lab I'd been using for C41 and E6 went under. (Ditto on the 30 minutes there and back on two successive days.) Now, I've learned another lab where I've shopped before also does processing -- at $4 a roll -- so I'll take my next roll of C41 to them.

 

[Trius]

It's easy, can be done in the kitchensink.
You only have to manage a bath temperature of 38C / 68f , for your developer for 3,15 minutes.
The next chemical is called "Blix" and is less temp sensitive (6 min.).
After that a water rinse for 3 minutes
And at last a stabilizer rinse for one minute.
A roll can be developed in 15 minutes. With a cheap C41 kit, it will cost you aprox. $1,- a roll.

Uh, I think you have yout C/F conversion formula a little bit confused. 😉

 

[nikon_sam]

Has anyone done any E-6 lately...I've got about 40 rolls of Velvia 50 in the frige I'd like to shoot...I just don't want to pay all that money to get it developed...
I did E-6 about 25 years ago and I believe it's gotten easier these days...
Anyone doing this...???

 

[Sjixxxy]

The more you do it, the easier and faster it gets. Welcome to the club. 🙂

Yup. I remember having to stumble for fifteen minutes trying to get a roll of film onto a reel for processing, these days it is much faster.