Digital BW, The Print

Thomas,

> Many
> labs use stuff like D76 or HC110 because of cost and replenishment.  much
> better choices can be made.

I strongly disagree that "much better choices can be made" than processing
Tri-X and Plus-X in D-76.  It depends on the film, and what you want the
film to look like.  I have tried every developer, short of mixing my own,
and nothing works as well, for me, as D-76 1:1 for the films I mention.

> If your scans are too grainy, try Kodak XTOL.
> This suggestion is particularly applicable to anyone who shoots Tmax.

I agree with XTOL for TMAX, but I found it isn't near as good for Tri-X,
Plus-X and Delta 100/400 as D-76.  Just my experience.  I only use XTOL for
Neopan 1600 and Delta 3200 and for what little TMAX films I occasionally do.

> The developer is very sensitive to contaminents.  If your result
> appears too
> thin, that means your darkroom tanks and vessels are not clean enough.  so
> clean everything more thoroughly than usual.

I have never heard that with XTOL.  I do know that if they film is thin, the
developer is exhausted.  This can be caused by three things in my
experience.  One is insufficient amount of solution per roll.  This is
specified in the instruction sheet and pretty much should be adhered to.
Second is mixing it with aerated water.  Nothing kills it faster than that.
Let the water sit for a while before mixing.  Third is just time.  XTOL
gives no indication of being exhausted, unlike most other developers that
turn brown/yellow.  I only use fresh XTOL, and will not hesitate to throw
out XTOL that's been around for a month.  It also MUST be kept in FULL
sealed, preferably glass, bottles.  Plastic bottles seem to not work near as
well for XTOL.

> I believe the invention of this developer by the Kodak engineering team is
> possibly the biggest advance in chemical photography in the last decade.
> The improvement is substantial.

Obviously, you like XTOL.  I find it's tonality and grain
objectionable...and find D-76 gives much better and smoother tonality, and
"easy" grain.

Regards,

Austin