Pushing Tri-X to 1600 with HC-110

[pau3]

Hi!

I've been pushing Tri-X to 1600 with HC-110 (dil. B). I gave it 12 minutes
at 20C (68F?), with constant agitation the first 30'' and then 5''
every 30''. The results are ok, but a bit muddy. They could have
more highlights. Do you have any experience with this film/developer? Should I use more time?

I was thinking in doing some serious tests, but, well, maybe someone
out there has already done them.

 

[kaiyen]

If it's more highlight density that you're after, then yes, just increase time.

You might want to look at the most recent post on my info blog. It's a link to a thread on PN with some good information from Donald Qualls on using HC-110 and TXT at dilution G.

allan

 

[the_other_dirk]

Hi and welcome to RFF!

Here is a web page where someone explains how he uses HC-110. He uses dilution "H" (1+63), which in combination with decreased agitation gives a compensation effect: the developer exhausts locally on the highlights, effectively reducing development there while the developer keeps going in the shadows. Result: more detail in shadows (although you will still be getting very little in the shadows since you've pushed the film 2 stops), and less blown out highlights. This could be something for you to test (he gives 19 minutes at 24°C (I assume from the rest of his text) and I think he agitates only once or twice during the entire development (I also assume from the rest of his text).

Sounds good in theory -- I haven't tested it yet. I'm still using D76 (TriX @ 200). If I push TriX to 1600 I use X-tol because this gives relatively little grain and a bit more effective film speed (which you can use if pushing film) than D76.

Dirk

 

[photodog]

I would suggest trying dilution A instead.

 

[pau3]

Thanks for the inputs, comments and links.

I've read a lot about this technique of prolongued
developing times with very few agitations, but never
tried.