Anybody out there tried using Tech Pan to get super high contrast, black or white no mid tones, negatives and prints? Does it work? How do I visualise what will be white and what will turn out black? A lab told me to shoot it at iso 200, bracket 1/2 stop, and they will develop it in Tmax.

-- John Curtis (jwcfd@yahoo.com), January 17, 2001

Answers

Your lab's advice will probably work fine. I had "success" by choosing inherently high-contrast subject matter and also by using direct flash to blast foregrounds into oblivion. Side light at sunset will also probably create some interesting effects.

I developed in Dektol full strength for 3 minutes, exposed at EI 320-400. Plenty of contrast. I quickly learned that I don't see that way, but perhaps you may.

-- John O'Connell (boywonderiloveyou@hotmail.com), January 17, 2001.

Technical pan is a super-high contrast film. It was designed for graphic arts copying work. Lith developer should be enough to push it over the edge to line film.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), January 17, 2001.

Check www.digitaltruth.com for information on handling of Tech Pan.

-- Gene Crumpler (nikonguy@worldnet.att.net), January 18, 2001.

The last roll of Tech Pan I bought came with an instruction sheet which included developing suggestions for a range of contrast indices from 0.50 (low contrast, pictorial) to 2.50 (highest contrast,) using Kodak developers Dektol, D-19, HC-110, D-76, Microdol, XTOL and Technidol (in descending order of contrast - I note that TMax developer is not listed.)

For the highest contrast index (2.50) they suggest exposing at EI 200 and developing in Dektol for 3 minutes at 68 F. Dektol is a paper developer, usually diluted 1:2 (stock solution made from powder.) I remember using Dektol stock solution succcessfully, either straight or 1:1, when developing Kodak's High Contrast Copy film for high contrast applications. (Apparently Dektol is now available as a liquid concentrate to be diluted 1:9 for use - I'd guess that using this concentrate without any dilution might be a bit aggressive.

I wouldn't be surprised if that chart is available somewhere on Kodak's web site, although I confess I haven't checked to be sure. The instruction sheet also contains a reference to Kodak Publication P-255 for more info on Tech Pan - perhaps that's available on line, too.

Good luck with the process.

-- Kip Babington (cbabing3@swbell.net), January 24, 2001.