I have shot a LOT of the new Tri-X, and even with what I view as adequate washing and fixing I have noticed a slight purple caste. I have not, however, noticed any difficulties printing from these negatives. Maybe a call to Kodak will clear things up (pun unintended). I have even used TF-4, the alkali fixer, fresh, for five minutes, and they are still purple.
I would put HP5+ on par with Tri-X, maybe slightly less so. I wouldn't say that TMAX and Tri-X involve the same amount of dye and lump them together. I am not a proponent of fixing the hell out of these films to reduce the color caste. I fix in TF-4 and follow the directions for the amount of film they can fix and fix them for five minutes as per the directions. Like someone aptly pointed out earlier, it is the sensitizing dyes. If you fix and wash per the directions, you needn't worry about the slight color caste. IMHO it is easier to overwash and overfix than underfix and uderwash a negative. Flim is not like paper in its difficulty of washing. Look at Ilfords archival processing directions and you will be surprised and what little washing they recommend.
Jennifer-
No. The Ilford films do not have the same issues as we are discussing with TriX and TMax films. (not in 120 format). At least, not that I've ever seen.
It's also not an issue, really, as pointed out. The negs, if still slightly tinted, still print up wonderfully without any extra hassles.
This is interesting and thanks everyone for your input! Cheers Tammy, this particular films are the old TriX400 35mm, that's why I was quite suprised.
Either way, I bought a whole batch (20 rolls from the same batch) of TriX400 35mm film and when I develop myself don't get any colour cast but from the lab I do. Just another discovery. From now on will stick to developing myself and if I botch a neg, I have only myself to blame.
Great to hear from everyone!
Kind regards,
Nicole
I've just developed 8 films in a Paterson spiral tank, 6 T-Max 400's and 2 HP 5's. They were all developed together using t-max developer (9 mins at 20.5 deg C 4:1 solution), stop bath for approx 1 min and fresh good fixer for 2 1/2 mins. Washed in the tank for 1 hour 10 mins. When I took them out, all the t-max's have a pink/magenta sheen, but the HP 5's are fine. What the hell has gone wronG, can anyone please tell me? I've developed at least 500 films like this, and only recall this happening once before. Can I do anything about it now?? They are rather important films, and although still printable, the prints are definitely impaired.
Tmax base is a bit purple.
I had the same when I developed a Tmax100 for the first time, yesterday. For the record: Rodinal 1+50, 8' @ 22C (tap water temp.). I liked the results. Because I did not shoot the film myself (roll from a friend), I can't give any recommendations on the time.
Normally when I pour out the developper after a roll of FP4 or HP5, it still has that brownish color. After that one roll of Tmax, the poured out developper was purple/lila.
I guess it's just normal. But I would not recommend to develop different brands of film at the same time!
You've not fixed the Tmax films for long enough to remove all the dye. It's best to fix and inspect checking the pink colour has cleared before washing
I concur with Ian. I fix my Tmax for 10 minutes in Kodafix followed by 1 minute water wash, two minutes hypo-clear and a 10 minute distilled water wash. Even with this- I will pick up just a hint of reddish tinge in the tray final rinse tray of distilled water and photo flo after processing a dozen sheets or so in it. The negatives themselves, however, are free of color.
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