Paper/developer combo for max contrast

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I have a very thin negative that is not printing with enough contrast. I’ve tried Ilford MG IV with maximum contrast and Oriental Seagull grade 4, both in Dektol. But neither does the trick.

Does anyone have any paper/developer combinations that they use to get the most contrast out of a thin negative? Thanks.

-- Rich Lingg (r_lingg@hotmail.com), August 14, 2001

Answers

Rich, If you can find some use Edwals Ultra Black developer. If all else fails try toning the negative in selenium. I have done this with a few negatives that were thin and the results were very good. I would use toning as a last resort though because it is permanent.

-- Justin Fullmer (provo.jfullmer@state.ut.us), August 14, 2001.

doesn't oriental seagull also come in grade 5?

-- mark lindsey (lindseygraves@msn.com), August 14, 2001.

I asked someone in the B&H darkroom department (Irv?) about grade 5 paper and he said no one makes it any more. Grade 5 would be about right, if I could find some.

-- Rich Lingg (r_lingg@hotmail.com), August 14, 2001.

Rich, I second the selenium toning suggestion. It's very simple, works predictably, and it does not bring a penalty in terms of increased grain or loss of sharpness.

Make a solution of selinium to water--1:2. Treat your negative as if you were developing it for the first time--put roll film on a reel, sheet film in a tray, etc. Treat the film in the selenium for 10 minutes, agitating as you would for normal developing. Wash for 5-10 minutes and dry the negative as you would any other. That's it. It will increase contrast about one grade. By the way, keep the selenium; you can re-use it many times. Once you see how effective this is, and how easy, you'll want to treat other negatives!

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), August 15, 2001.


Brovira and Kodabromide were the last papers I know of that had a grade 5. Selenium toning the neg is good, but won't salvage your shadows. You could also try developing in Ansco 130 or an amidol formula undiluted to increase contrast.

Another possibility is to use Ilfobrom grade 4, expose normally, develop in Ansco 120 or Selectol Soft, and solarize lightly--done just right it won't change the blacks much, but if the high values are printed as a grey they can reverse and become white. You would probably have to clear the high values with Farmer's reducer.

Yet another possibility is simply to overprint and then reduce with Farmer's reducer.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), August 15, 2001.



you might try LPD 1:1

-- Ann C lancy (clancya@mediaone.net), August 15, 2001.

Use a strong and hot solution of developer and add a spoonfull of Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda)- often sold as Drain Cleaner. Carefull! : its strong stuff..

-- Ian Gordon Bilson (igbilson@earthlight.co.nz), August 25, 2001.

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