Question on grain using PMK Pyro

[dusty_hyland1]

My question is: Why is there more apparent grain in the middle

tones, ie., near zone V, than in highlights or shadows? The

highlights look great, and zone iv and under look good. I cannot

post a picture atm, but I will give as much relevant background as

possible. The grain is not large, or real noticeable, but is is more

apparent than in the upper/lower zones. It is most obvious when

viewed from close inspection, not from a distance, which the print

does look better from over 2-3 feet away. Just a slight

disappointment.

 

Equpment: Mamiya M645, 80 mm Sekor c lens.

Pentax didgital spotmeter.

Film: Delta 100

ISO used: 80

Speed: 1-250 @ f11

Chemistry: PMK Pyro, dev at 74*, 8.4 min (-4% per degree from 11 min

at 70*), distilled water stop, tf-4 fix, 4 min, lfn rinse after 22

min wash.

Print: full frame 11x14 print on Oriental Seagull, variable fiber

base.

[ed_pierce2]

I've found that the grain is always most noticible in the middle values. I don't know why.

[tim_curry]

The higher values are where the stain is most pronounced, as well as the "thickest" part of the film with respect to silver deposits anyway. PMK acts like another layer masking the grain, it is there, just hard to see.

 

At the lower values, grain is almost gone on a "normal" thin negative. I have one with lots of shadow detail which I almost didn't print because there just isn't anything to see on the film. It prints well at grade 3 and there is an amazing amount of detail in the shadows, it just doesn't seem possible until it is printed.

 

In the middle, there is less stain and full values for grain. If you are going to see grain at all, it is in the mid tones. Try some of the Efke 25 and try to find some grain in the mid tones, sorry, just not there without extreme enlargement.

[jorge_oliveira2]

I've never used staining devs, but grain is normally more pronounced in middletones.

 

Possibly because in higlights there are lots of silver grains and they 'block' the empty spaces (grain as seen in a print is not silver - it's space, that's why it's black) and in shadows there are too few silver grains to create empty spaces.