diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index f5f62a5..59dc122 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -492,6 +492,59 @@ "found" old films. +### Update 12-18-2021: Low Agitation With Super-Dilute HC-110 + +I wanted to see how super-dilute HC-110 behaved when agitated +minimally. Officially, the Kodak datasheet stops at 1:79 (Dilution +F). But I wanted to see if very high dilution and minimal agitation +worked well with this well regarded staple of the darkroom. + +For this test, I exposed a 120 roll of Arista 100 at ASA 100. The +film reel was elevated from the bottom of a Kodak 1/2 gal rubber tank +with a stopper to try to keep it away from any residual bromide +byproducts. + +1/2 gallon of HC-110 was diluted 1:128. The film was prewashed for 3 +minutes then placed in the developer. It was initially agitated +continuously for 2 minutes and then left to stand. At 31 minutes, +another 15 seconds of agitation was applied. The film was removed +from developer at 60 minutes and fixed/washed as usual. + +Findings: + +* The film developed nicely with no evidence of bromide drag and hit + full box ASA as one might expect. + +* Compared to Pyrocat-HD negatives, this seems to so very slightly more + grain (not surprising) compared to other ASA 100 films. However, I've + not processed Arista 100 rollfilm in Pyrocat-HD so it could also just + be how the film is made. + +* The biggest thing I noticed is that super-dilute HC-110 has some + highlight compensating effect but it is noticeably less pronounced + than Pyrocat-HD. I'd guess this is because of the lack of staining + effect. + + One of the test scenes has deep shadows in a building directly + illuminated by late afternoon sun. There was probably something + like a 13-15 stop subject brighness range. Pycocat-HD would have + handled those highlights just fine, but the super-dilute HC-110 + yielded a thick, dense negative. It WAS printable and there WAS + detail in the highlights, so the highlight exhaustion inherent in + low agitation development definitely came into play. It just wasn't + as pronounced a correction as I am used to. (It made the negative + super fun to print with 100 seconds of soft light required to punch + through the highlight density.) + +Although this will never be my own daily driver, it would be useful +for teaching low agitation - you likely don't want students poking +around in catechol laced solutions until they understand what they are +doing. + +As an aside, HC-110 and D-76 have very similar behaviours. It might +be fun to try super dilute D-76 some time. + + ## Copyright And Use All content here is Copyright (c) 2021 TundraWare Inc., Des Plaines, IL USA