Minimizing film grain- your technique

[srtiwari]

Many people like grain. I don't. I love the grain free look of many of the photos on this forum. Despite using slow film, not over-exposing (or under-exposing), using near correct temperatures, distilled water, and various techniques of stand development or accurate timed development, and few, slow agitation, Scanning and then down-sampling etc., I cannot quite reduce grain as much as I would like to. I do not believe I am looking for unreasonable levels, as many people here have managed to do that- using different films and developers.
Its not that I never get them. Its just that I don't know what I did (in that instance) to get them !


(BTW, I use Acros, Tri-X, Legacy Pro 400, and develop with Rodinal, Diafine, or XTol, and have D76 and HC110 available)

I would appreciate knowing what specific steps people take when they are trying to get grain-free negatives.
Posting 100% crops as examples (if possible) will be even more helpful.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Use Kodak Tmax100 and Tmax400 films and develope them in Ilford Perceptol. Dilute the developer with 2 parts water. At 23 degrees C develope from 8 to 10 minutes, depending on the contrast you want. Extremely fine grain.

Erik.

Example 18 x 24 mm negative (Olympus Pen F) Tmax100.

 

[tlitody]

use delta 100 and perceptol and cut out the scanner and you won't have grain. Rodinal is bad for grain.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

use a digital camera ?

 

[srtiwari]

use a digital camera ?

Clever, but hardly helpful 🙄

 

[sojournerphoto]

use a digital camera ?

Or use a nbit of blur before downsizing in photoshop to avoid aliasing the grain on the resaample.

Mike

 

[Keith]

In a word ... Xtol!

 

[sepiareverb]

Perceptol at 1:1 will certainly help.

Delta 100 or Rollei Pan 25 are very smooth, and Adox CMS 20 is as fine grained as it gets.

 

[srtiwari]

Erik, that image looks great. I'm going to get some perceptol.

Keith, your images ( e.g. Reflections #2) with Legacy Pro 400. Were they done in XTol ?

 

[andredossantos]

I'm not a precise person by nature so while I can and do develop my own film I also have my local pro lab do rolls for me when I want something precise. Going for low grain is one of those times. I'll shoot preferably Tmax but also Delta and bring it to the lab for them to dev in xtol.

I love the low iso films too: Efke, Adox, and lately Rollei Retro 80s (Great stuff!).

 

[Keith]

Erik, that image looks great. I'm going to get some perceptol.

Keith, your images ( e.g. Reflections #2) with Legacy Pro 400. Were they done in XTol ?

Yes ... Xtol 1+1 ten minutes @ 20deg.

🙂

 

[hans voralberg]

If you don't like grain Perceptol is the way to go mate 🙂

 

[tj01]

What works for me is Tri-X and 1:1 D76 and a bit overexposure. As mentioned by others, stay away from Rodinal. I hardly can notice any grain even when printed 8x10, relatively grain.

 

[Steve M.]

If grain is not your friend, then C41 B&W will be.

 

[Fawley]

There are several choices in slower speed film for fine grain. When I want fine grain and higher speed, I always reach for Delta 400 (I suspect TMax is the same). Souped in XTol, this will produce very fine grain, but many other standard developers will likely give similiar results.
If you choose a specifically fine grain developer (like Perceptol) be aware that you loose a bit of film speed and sharpness.

 

[Freakscene]

In a word ... Xtol!

Agreed.

Marty

 

[Morca007]

Use larger film.

 

[robklurfield]

I'll second Adox CMS 20. Not easy to work with, but nothing I've seen has finer grain.

Perceptol at 1:1 will certainly help.

Delta 100 or Rollei Pan 25 are very smooth, and Adox CMS 20 is as fine grained as it gets.

 

[helen.HH]

TMAX 100 / 400
little to NO AGITATION ....😀

 

[arunrajmohan]

Second that...

Second that...

What works for me is Tri-X and 1:1 D76 and a bit overexposure. As mentioned by others, stay away from Rodinal. I hardly can notice any grain even when printed 8x10, relatively grain.

Properly exposed shots on Tri-X or in my case Arista Premium 400 in 1:1 D76 equals sharp, almost grain-free images. Also TMY2 in HC110 1:60 results in a smooth images. Have to agree with perceptol suggestions as well. Used it long back, but it forced me to use gloves. Have heard nice things about xtol, but I do not want to add another factor in my tumultuous and wild relationship with films and film developing.

Arun