Technical Pan as line film

Anybody out there tried using Tech Pan to get super high contrast, black or white no mid tones, negatives and prints? Does it work? How do I visualise what will be white and what will turn out black? A lab told me to shoot it at iso 200, bracket 1/2 stop, and they will develop it in Tmax.

Your lab's advice will probably work fine. I had "success" by

choosing inherently high-contrast subject matter and also by using

direct flash to blast foregrounds into oblivion. Side light at sunset

will also probably create some interesting effects.

 

<p>

 

I developed in Dektol full strength for 3 minutes, exposed at EI

320-400. Plenty of contrast. I quickly learned that I don't see that

way, but perhaps you may.

Technical pan <b>is</b> a super-high contrast film. It was designed

for graphic arts copying work. Lith developer should be enough to push

it over the edge to line film.

Check www.digitaltruth.com for information on handling of Tech Pan.

The last roll of Tech Pan I bought came with an instruction sheet

which included developing suggestions for a range of contrast indices

from 0.50 (low contrast, pictorial) to 2.50 (highest contrast,) using

Kodak developers Dektol, D-19, HC-110, D-76, Microdol, XTOL and

Technidol (in descending order of contrast - I note that TMax

developer is not listed.)

 

<p>

 

For the highest contrast index (2.50) they suggest exposing at EI 200

and developing in Dektol for 3 minutes at 68 F. Dektol is a paper

developer, usually diluted 1:2 (stock solution made from powder.) I

remember using Dektol stock solution succcessfully, either straight or

1:1, when developing Kodak's High Contrast Copy film for high contrast

applications. (Apparently Dektol is now available as a liquid

concentrate to be diluted 1:9 for use - I'd guess that using

this concentrate without any dilution might be a bit aggressive.

 

<p>

 

I wouldn't be surprised if that chart is available somewhere on

Kodak's web site, although I confess I haven't checked to be sure.

The instruction sheet also contains a reference to Kodak Publication

P-255 for more info on Tech Pan - perhaps that's available on line,

too.

 

<p>

 

Good luck with the process.