I've started using HP5+ developed in PMK, using Gordon Hutchings recommended time, in a Jobo inversion small tank. The negs have sufficient density and fairly vigourous contrast as far as I can see. There is more overall fog than I'm used to (density probably approx 0.4 based on spot meter readings through blank frame) and the colour of the image is rather like that of a warm tone paper.

I'm not yet able to print them. I realise that only by printing will I know how good they are, but I was a little surprised to see an image colour that didn't fit descriptions I've seen like "yellow" or "olive". I was expecting more dramatic stain. There is no sign of unevenness.

I used water stop (2 min), Agfa FX-Universal fixer (alkaline, see recent thread for advice to use this), soak in used developer (2 min), 20min rinse, minimal Photo-Flo. TF-4 is not available here (Australia) and it will take me a while to get some.

The only thing I did differently to most people was to use 500mL of standard PMK per film, not 250mL. I did this because I had read conflicting advice somewhere about whether G.H.'s stated capacity for standard PMK (250mL for a 35mm film)was actually sufficient. Less developer would have possibly given me less contrast, as a result of exhaustion. Would it have given more stain as a result of higher oxidation?

I know I should try it, but maybe someone can tell me if what I've got is normal. My darkroom is nearly ready, but I have a few more films to develop.

-- john stockdale (jjss@bigpond.net.au), June 05, 2001

Answers

John,

Without seeing the negative I would have to say your developer is too strong. Try a batch at Hutchings recommended dilution and see what happens. Hutching's dilutions are pretty reliable. As for color, films all react a little differently and the brown/tan color you refer to sounds like what I've seen described for films developed in Kodak ABC pyro. Just stabbing in the dark, this might be from your fix or too strong a developer. Maybe someone else can provide a better answer.

-- Kevin (kkemner@tatesnyderkimsey.com), June 05, 2001.

John, your processing seems okay to me. I shoot HP5+ at EI 200 and use 600ml. water, 6ml. part A, 12ml. part B. You need to print some of your negatives before assuming something is wrong.

-- Don Sparks (Harleyman7@aol.com), June 05, 2001.

I suspect your negatives will print beautifully. PMK negs are kind of unassuming. You used essentially the same procedure I use.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), June 05, 2001.