Pushing film, but retaining greyscale

[Alain]

I recently shot a roll of neopan 1600, pushed 3200. The images are of course very contrasty and I'm wondering if there is a method for processing that would allow me to retain some greyscale while still increasing the speed?

Is there some method of slow activation for film processing that I can use?


Thanks,
Alain

 

[plummerl]

After my first experience with Ilford Microphen, I'd give it a try. Massive Dev. Chart shows stock at 5.75m.

 

[derevaun]

There's latensification, using hydrogen peroxide vapor. Anchell's Darkroom Cookbook has a discussion of it. I haven't tried it, just read about it in a library book.

 

[Dougg]

I've used chromium intensifier in the past, but it acts proportional to the existing density, so increases contrast, and I think it's most useful to address an underdevelopment problem. That is, it cannot intensify what isn't there...

And that leads to considering development that works harder on what almost isn't there without totally frying the more exposed areas of the neg. Diafine comes to mind as a super-proportional developer, but the instructions suggest exposing Neopan 1600 at EI 1200. A smart move, since the best way to get shadow density is to give adequate exposurre. 🙂 But hey, they suggest 1600 for Tri-X... The greatest speeds suggested on the Diafine box are for Delta 3200 and TMax 3200 at around 2000 - 2400.

There are "Stand development" techniques to try too, with very dilute developer solutions working for hours with no agitation. I haven't tried that but there are others here in RFF that have shared their experiences. Might do a forum search...

 

[varjag]

As mentioned above, film "hyping" with peroxide, hydrogen or ammonia could possibly do the trick. Just don't expect fine grain 🙂