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TX in Ilford DD-X - any experience?


andy_buck

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My new film processor (please let's not start a discussion of why

someone else develops my film or why I switched!) uses Ilford DD-X. I

usually over expose TX 120 2 stops and under develop. (No, my prints

are not flat.) How would anybody characterize TX in DD-X, tonally,

grain wise, etc?

 

Thanks.

Andy

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Answering only the last sentence, TX in DDX gives nice crispy fine grain and good tonality. I think its a pretty good combination.

 

I'm sure you have deeply personal reasons for switching processors, so I'll spare you the trauma of explaining (although I suggest professional counseling might be helpful). I do wonder, why does overexposing your film 2 stops make your prints curl?

 

; >)

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Tri-X in DD-X is an excellent combination, IMO. Moderately fine grain (this is Tri-X after all), good sharpness, nice tonal range. If DD-X really is liquid Microphen (they're both PQ developers, but don't know relative concentrations) it's supposed to be speed-enhancing, but I get maybe a third of a stop increase (EI 250 instead of the 200 I used to like w/D76) and that might just be me changing. I like my negs thickish, and 250 is fine.
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Thanks, all! Yes, he'll do any time I want, so I'll just apply my usual % reduction plus, based on dave t's comment, a little more. My other option is T-Max developer, but I've never heard anything good about it, even with T-Max films, which aren't my "cuppa."
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Andy, since your film processor (I assume you are referring to a commercial lab.) uses Ilford DD-X developer, why not try a roll of Ilford film? You may really like the results with Ilford Delta 400 or HP-5 plus. I use Ilford HP-5 plus 4X5 sheet film developed in Ilford Microphen, the powder version of DD-X. I rate it at a full 400 speed, and get nice contrasty negatives that print easily with my cold light enlarger. I formerly used Delta 400 sheet film with Microphen, until Ilford dis-continued it. DD-X developer adds a slight increase in film speed, so you don't need to increase exposure in order to obtain good shadow detail. You can rate Tri-X at the full 320 speed with DD-X
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Eugene -

 

No, it's a custom 'lab' (1 guy, 2 assistants) pecializing in b&w fiber printing. I have thought of trying hp5 because it comes in 220 (I may pick up a Linhof 6x12 holder). I'm using TX, iso 400, not TXP, iso 320, which has better midtone separation than TXP, and supposedly is very similar to hp5. Thanks for the microphen relationship info, too.

 

Thanks

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