Tri-X in DDX

[PATB]

I have been using D76 to develop Tri-x in the community darkroom I am currently using. I am planning to develop at home and would like to try DDX and Ilford Rapid fixer with Tri-X. DDX seems to be more convenient as it comes as a liquid concentrate and available in small portions.

Questions:
1) At what EI should I shoot the Tri-x? I normally shoot at rated speed using D76 1:1. What about DDX?
2) How long should I develop? The Ilford site says 8min for 1:4 dilution but is not clear on whether this is for the new or old Tri-x.
3) What is a recommended fixing time using Rapidfixer?

I still have some rolls of Tri-x left so I will shoot those. Once they run out, I am going to start experimenting with Ilford films. What fast Ilford film do you recommend with DDX?


I am planning on primarily scanning, with some wet printing when I have time to go to the darkroom.

Thanks much for any information.

 

[OurManInTangier]

I shot my first roll of Tri-X recently and developed it in DDX. I'll try and attach an example below, for what its worth.

I did exactly as it said on the box when I souped it, 8min at 1:4 dilution...oh and I'd rated it at the full 400 when shooting though I've heard since that it works really well at 320.

I tend to fix for 8mins using Ilfords rapid fixer and then wash thoroughly using the inversion method, followed by an extra fifteen minutes of normally washing for good measure.

I'm afraid that;

a) I'm not the greatest darkroom technician
b) Particularly experienced in the dark arts of the darkroom

or

c) Ever likely to be as good as many here.

However, there are many here who can give the fullest of answers, infact I think I saw a thread recently about Tri-X in DDX and Rodinol that may be worth searching out. If you do as I did and follow the box instructions you won't go wrong, just use it as a starting point to experiment.

 

[kully]

That's some nice tones Simon.

I've never tried DD-X with Tri-X but I do use it when pushing HP5+ to 1600 (13 minutes, 1:4, 20C/68F). I love this combination.

However, I stick to D76 1:1 for shooting at 400 because DD-X is so much more expensive per roll (three times the price). And. At 400 D76 is fine for my tastes.

Once I'd mixed up a 3.8l bag of D76 once I've found it's quite easy now.

 

[titrisol]

1) At what EI should I shoot the Tri-x? Look at the Ilford reccomendations ... I think 400 will be fine in DDX, but you should also be able to push TriX up to 1600 easily in this developer
2) How long should I develop? The Ilford site says 8min for 1:4 dilution but is not clear on whether this is for the new or old Tri-x. Check digitaltruth for updated information
But 8 minutes in 1+4 sounds about right for 400

Tri-X 400 Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 200 6.5 20C [notes]
Tri-X 400 Ilfotec DD-X 1+8 320 12 21C [notes]
Tri-X 400 Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 400 8 20C [notes]
Tri-X 400 Ilfotec DD-X 1+9 400 10.25 24C
Tri-X 400 Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 800 10 20C [notes]
Tri-X 400 Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 1600 14 20C [notes]

3) What is a recommended fixing time using Rapidfixer? 3-5 minutes should do

 

[hans voralberg]

My time is 8 @ 1:4 or 9 @ 1:6, 20C.
Fix for 5 min

Sample

 

[PATB]

Thanks for the info. And great shots too!

 

[kaiyen]

With _spot_ metering, you might get closer to 560 or maybe even 640 out of TXT in DDX. Phenidone should give you at least box speed, if not 1/3 stop over. 2/3 is less likely, but possible.

I have lots of info on Microphen but not DDX...

 

[dcsang]

Just dev'd the EXACT same combo last night - have yet to scan them but will do so and post here.

To answer your questions (with the standard "YMMV" disclaimer ):
1) Shoot it at the same speed you would normally shoot it at (i.e. I don't bother shooting it at anything other than 400 currently) as though you were dev'ing in D-76
2) 8 min @ 1:4 dilution is pretty much bang on (@ 68F) - check digitaltruth.com for further times / temps based on dilutions / ISO settings (that's for the NEW tri-x but I believe there's both new and old on that site)
3) RapidFixer - fix for about 2.5 minutes (depending on "freshness" of the fixer.. I reuse my fixer so as it begins to get "stale" per se I tend to either increase my time or dump it and make a fresh batch prior to dev'ing.

DD-X is basically, imho, liquid concentrate D-76.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[titrisol]

dc DDX is not concentrate D76. It is a different animal, a home version of good'ol ilford DD with some "primer". Was specially developed to suit the Delta line of films.
ID-11 is similar to D-76
Check the ilford forums for an old discussion about this with DavidCarper.

 

[Turtle]

\

DD-X is basically, imho, liquid concentrate D-76.

Cheers,
Dave

I would suggest always using an EI of a 1/2 stop faster with DDX compared with D76. It produces very noticeably greater film speed than D76 regardless of dilutions etc. In my view, whatever a person is doing with D76, if they use the same EI with DDX they will be getting a significant increase in exposure.

I have never found a film that I have used less than box speed with DDX and I shoot TriX at 250-320 - 400 (bright/contrasty - some good contrast -flat as hell lighting) in D76 using TTL area metering. In flat overcast conditions I would not rate it less than 500-640 with DDX.

IMO DDX produces a touch more speed than Xtol 1+1 and that never fails to give box speed unless you are aiming for compression. As with Xtol, DDX produces fine grain but slightly less so.

 

[Trius]

infact I think I saw a thread recently about Tri-X in DDX and Rodinol that may be worth searching out.

Could be, but you may be thinking of XTol + Rodinal. I started using that combination after seeing Tri-X in it on flickr, shot by Honus (Robert Vincent); he got the original info from Patrick Gainer, over on APUG.

My problem with DDX is twofold. One, relatively short shelf life (I could be wrong about that) and higher fog level than some other developers. Neither are deal killers.