Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/02/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 01:57:15 -0800 >Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net> wrote: >Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Re: RE: Tri-X and Kodak vs Ilford? > >Eric Welch wrote: >> >> At 05:12 PM 2/17/99 -0500, you wrote: >> >In any event, if this is a problem or concern, you should perhaps switch to >> >a more powerful rapid-type fixer. >> >> As I understand it, that is really the only way to fix TMax films. The >> non-rapid fixer does take a long time. But I've only used rapid-fixer >> because that's what Kodak recommends, and I don't like mixing powders if at >> all possible. >> >Getting the pink out of TMax is no picnic. In my experience, contrary to >yours if you didn't fix it out it wouldn't wash out and it did show up >in the printing. You had to fix it in rapid fix no hardener till the >cows come home. >Mark Rabiner > My T-Max always comes out perfectly without any pinks. Its all in the technique. First, I use the Kodak T-Max developer and follow the directions on the container. I run my film through a Jobo rotary processor (50 rpm) at 75F and the solutions are discarded after a single use (one-shot processing). There are 2 secrets to getting rid of the pink: fresh fixer (I'm using Ilfofix but the Kodak one works equally well) and a washing aid. I use Kodak Hypo clearing agent and follow the directions on the package. No more pinks. T-Max is a wonderful but totally unforgiving film and *needs* to be exposed and developed with precision or you will not be pleased with the results. If you are at all sloppy you will probably be much happier with a classic and more forgiving Tri-X and D76 combo instead. Robert Hudyma, Semi-Tech Corporation, 2800 14th Avenue, Suite 511, Markham Ontario, Canada L3R 0E4. Fax: (905) 475-3652 Email: rhudyma@netcom.ca The distinction between past, present and future is only an illusion, even if a stubborn one. - Albert Einstein