PMK - less stain on FP4+ than HP5+

[deardorff8x10]

I just started using PMK pyro on FP4+ and HP5+ 120 size. I did a test

with one roll of each with different exposures, etc. as I would with a

new film/devo combo.

 

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I developed as per Book of Pyro: 10 min for FP4+ and 13 min for HP5+.

Water wash, then Photo Formulary alkaline fixer, two minute dunk in

used devo, then 20-30 min wash.

 

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The HP5+ is nearly olive with a slight fog.

The FP4+ looks almost normal relative to HP5+, with no fog, a slight

yellow-green stain, but much less than HP5+. Compared to Tri-x or

Tmax in XTOL (neutral to slightly blue), the FP4+ looks very yellow.

 

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On test prints, to my surprise, FP4+ and HP5+ had very similar grain,

perhaps due to greater stain. I used the smae water, dilution, etc.

for each roll. I mixed fresh devo for each with one roll in a one

liter two roll tank, full of devo. There was possibly a tiny amount

(5 ml) more air in the HP5+. In neither was the tank totally full.

The only other difference is that I developed the HP5+ roll first, and

used that devo for both post-fixing bath.

 

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Anyway, my two questions are:

 

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1)I have heard that faster films stain more. Is this common

experience? Doest HP5+ stain more than FP4+ in others' experience?

 

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2) Is it peoples' experience that pyro developed 120 HP5+ and FP4+

have similar grain?

 

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Thanks.

[ted_kaufman]

Michael, your experience with FP4+ and HP5+ in PMK is perfectly

normal. Fine grained films do stain less than courser grained

films. And from the description of your procedure, you did

everything correctly.

 

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As for the grain of HP5+ and FP4+ being equal, I am suspect. PMK

does show fine grain with HP5+, due to the staining. But PMK also

yields very fine grain with FP4+. In my experience, FP4+ grain is

significantly finer than HP5+ when developed in PMK.

 

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I wonder if you are comparing equal density negatives. If the FP4+

negs are somewhat overexposed, that could account for the grain

increase. Also, I think I use 9 min for FP4+, and, like you, 13 min.

for HP5+. I don't have my notes handy, but it might be that the FP4+

negatives are a little overdeveloped.

 

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It might also be something as simple as comparing an FP4+ image which

has an expanse of out of focus midtones to an overall sharp HP5+

image. All things being equal, FP4+ should show significantly finer

grain.

[deardorff8x10]

Thanks for the thoughts above. When I look at the grain with a

magnifier, I do see a bit more grain in the sky with HP5+. However,

as you noted, it is more in the lower mid-tones that grain is more

evident, in part due to the lower density of stain. I guess that I

saw less grain than I expected with HP5+.

 

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Thanks again