From: Tom Ferguson (tomf2468@pipeline.com)
Date: 07/17/02-08:18:51 AM Z
Hello Shannon, HP5 by it's nature has a fair bit of base density. If you
want/need a very thin base, you may be better off with another film. Using
it at 3200 is almost certainly going to harm your low end (shadow)
separation! I use it at 160 for alt. Also remember that with pinhole you (I)
get a bit of flare, so truly thin base (shadow) values are difficult to get
with any film.
As for development, I find using a stronger than recommended developer
dilution the "trick" with HP5. I typically use HC-110 developer. It's
"normal" strength is 30ml per liter. For Cyanotype I use 40 or 50ml per
liter (depending on the scene, zone system normal or plus).
-- Tom Ferguson http://www.ferguson-photo-design.com > From: "Shannon Stoney" <shannonstoney@earthlink.net> > Subject: [pinhole-discussion] HP5+ and LONG development times > > I am shooting HP5+ in the 8x10 format in a pinhole camera for cyanotypes. I > am having trouble getting the highlights dense enough. I am up to a 20 > minute development time now, and still the highlights only have a density of > 1.71. I would like a density range of about 1.6, starting at 0.35, say, in > the shadows. (I have to shoot it at like 3200 to get the shadows this > thin!) Should I keep increasing the development times? Is it "bad" to go > over 20 minutes? I process in straight D-76 in a homemade BTZS-style tube, > at 68 degrees. I am thinking maybe I should make the temperature warmer > rather than making the times longer. But, then what will I do if I ever > have to increase the development time further for a low-constrast scene? > (Excuse the cross posting if you read > the pinhole and alt-process lists.)
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