I want to try PMK pyro with Tri-X 35mm. Have Gordon Hutchings book, but having a hard time finding good starting times/temp/EI for Tri-X 35mm. All the stuff I see is for sheet film. If anybody has times for multiple EIs, would specially love to have them...I have some shot at 200 I would love to dunk in PMK, but suspect most are shooting it higher.

-- John Sarsgard (Endive4U@aol.com), December 02, 1998

Answers

I haven't ran any TRI-X through PMK although I have used other old emulsion films and the results are very nice. For roll film I usually cut the ISO in half so your film exposed at 200 would be in line. When processing roll film I agitate one inversion every 15 seconds and then let the tank set. I also rotate the tank around about 1/3 for every inversion so that the agitation is in a different spot each time. I think it is this high amount of agitation that causes the speed loss, at least in my experience. TRI-X is changed so very little with changes in development you might start with Gordon Hutchings suggest times as a starting point and then tailor your times from there to your own preferences. Remember to practice before you risk any masterpieces, it is a developer that demands that you do things correctly.

-- Jeff White (zonie@computer-concepts.com), December 02, 1998.

I too have no experience with Tri-X, but I've been using PMK with Ilford Delta films for about a year. My practice has been to cut the ISO in half (as you have done) and then take about a minute off the sheet film starting times that come with the PMK kit from Photographers' Formulary. I use the printed times for roll films (and would try them for sheets, if I used sheets.) Results are lovely.

-- Kip Babington (cbabing3@swbell.net), December 07, 1998.