Digital BW, The Print

Just for the record, I currently use Tech Pan in my Bronica 645 RF.  I think
the medium format rangefinder, TP, a light tripod, and a Nikon 8000 scanner
make a great information capture system.

I've used TP off and on for years.  I even mixed my own POTA before Kodak
made their version (the original dry TP chemistry) and then the liquid
Technidol developer.  I was never really satisfied with the film until
scanning came along and I stopped using the enlarger with the TP negatives.

My current solution for TP is to develop it to a higher contrast than would
be suitable for enlarging.  A good scanner, however, is made to handle slide
film contrast/dynamic range.  This is great for TP because it is made for
high contrast and a wide dynamic range.  I set the scanner on "positive"
"grayscale" to get the full range to show on the histogram.

I now soup the film in Technidol for 9 min. at 75 F. degrees.  I test the
film and scanner together and find that I can capture 12 stops in a single
frame.  I've tried dozens of developers and just could not, overall, beat
the (over priced) Kodak solution.

Evenness is a huge problem with this film, especially with medium format.  I
agitate at 1 min. intervals, alternating between 20 vertical shakes (10 as
fast as possible, rotate 1/4 turn, 10 more) and 4 inversions (rather a
standard agitation).  I tested my process by looking at frames that were
even midtones (shot of a ground glass).

With the Nikon and GEM enabled, the MF negs enlarge to 22 x 28 with
virtually no grain -- very nice indeed.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 

For UT2 & UT7 information, curves, and settings see:
http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/