HC-110 as a compensating developer

[evan_parker]

I've been searching around photo.net and around the Internet for tips

on using HC-110 as a compensating developer. Probably the most useful

site I have found is <a href="http://teachnet.edb.utexas.edu/%

7Eleica/hc110.html">here</a>.

<P>

This guy uses HC-110 at 1:63 dilution, or half dilution B at 75

degrees (~24 deg C). He processes Ilford HP5+ (the film I'm using)

for 10 minutes in this solution. I process HP5+ in Dilution B (1:31)

for 6-6.5 minutes at 68 deg F (20 deg C). Using Richard Knoppow's

(sp?) advice that processing times increase as the square root of the

dilution, and using Ilford's Time/Temp chart, I determined that my

derived time almost equals the time given by the author of the

webpage. I'm going to give it a go in just a few minutes, and let

everyone know how it turned out.

<P>

But while I'm developing/drying... could anyone give me any advice on

using HC-110 as a compensating developer? Is 1:63 the best dilution?

Any specific times?

[jorge_oliveira2]

That's Mironchuk - and his real (nice) site is:

 

http://www.mironchuk.com/HC-110.html

 

I've used his dillution/times both with Tri-X and TMX and they are fine (but as he points, these are his times).

[wieslaw1]

I read the info on HC-110 in the link provided and, sorry it is woodoo chemistry and kitchen procedures. "kinder to your

emulsions", "it is less jarring to the emulsion", etc. - such jargon is unacceptable to me.

[don_wallace1]

I use HP5 with HC-110 at different dilutions but I use a Jobo so my times are not going to be of much use to you. However, I strongly recommend that you consult Michael Covington's page on HC-110. It was of great use to me.

 

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/

 

Don Wallace

[kenneth_williams1]

I don't know what you plan to use the compensating developer for. I was interested in it because I wanted better highlights. I am finding that it is not necessary. I recently used Delta 100 rated at 50 for five minutes at 68 degress at dilution E (1:47). The pictures were of a white peonia against a black backdrop. I was surprised that the highlights turned out so well for a medium speed film. They were beautiful! I am also surprised that the highlights turned out so well using a condenser enlarger, Ilford's #2 filter with Ilford's RC paper. If you use a developer that is too dilute, you run the risk of it stopping when the it is exhaused. In other words, you can develop for 10 minutes, or 12 and the negative will not get any denser. If it is really dilute the thing to do is use a tank that is designed for 2 rolls and only put one roll in. You can also do this with D76 1:3 ratio. I forget the exact amount of developer you are supposed to use for each roll of HC-110; I think it is 7.5 ml per roll.