I have always used Ilford HP 5 and PMK Pyro with my 7 X 17 Camera. Heard good things about Bergger BPF 200 film. I am a devoted Pyro user, I am looking for some comments and maybe a "time & temp" starting point. Thnaks Steve Sherman

-- Steve Sherman (Strictlybw@cox.net), March 31, 2002

Answers

Steve,

BPF shows a strong response to pyro formulas, but also has a heavy fb+f--even more so than HP5+. This is generally no problem for silver printing where you just print through the base density, but can be more trouble for alternate processes. Other pyro formulas like ABC+ or Pyrocat HD may be better choices than PMK for this film.

-- Carl Weese (cweese@earthlink.net), March 31, 2002.

Carl,

What film/developer combination do you prefer for platinum?

Thanks,

Bill

-- Bill Marsh (redcloud54@earthlink.net), March 31, 2002.

Bill I would say read "The new platinum print" by Dick Sullivan and Carl, there you will find about the film and a very nice chapter on choosing techniques......

-- Jorge Gasteazoro (rossorabbit@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

I like the combination of Bergger and PMK for contact printing on Azo. I tend to shoot in low light and in the woods, if not both simultaneously, so much of the time I use HP5+ in PMK, but when I can justify the slower speed, I shoot the Bergger at EI 100 and develop for 12 minutes at 70 degrees F in PMK.

-- David Munson (apollo@luxfragilis.com), March 31, 2002.

Meant to add that I find that this combination has excellent shadow separation.

-- David Munson (apollo@luxfragilis.com), March 31, 2002.