Developing T-Max 400 in Xtol Stock

My process for developing Kodak T-Max 400 film in Kodak XTOL stock solution.

Equipment

Process

  1. Prep
    1. Layout equipment needed for loading film: can opener, scissors, tank, tank lid, reel, and spindle
    2. Load film onto reel and seal tank (COMPELTELY DARK)
    3. Measure 500mL XTOL stock into graduate
    4. Attach Jobo Cascade Film Washer to faucet
    5. Measure the developer temerature and adjust water temperature to within a few degrees and leave small flow to keep temperature
    6. Record rinse water and chemical temperatures
  2. Developer
    1. Pour XTOL into tank (FAST)
    2. Start timer (7m15s@18C, 6m30s@20C, 6m15s@21C, 5m15s@24C)
    3. Agitate with 5-7 inversions in 5s (VIGOROUS), tap tank to dislodge bubbles, repeat every 30s
    4. After timer goes off, quickly dump developer down the drain and proceed to the water stop
  3. Water Stop
    1. Attach Jobo Cascade (FAST) and adjust flow
    2. Start 1m timer
    3. Rinse graduate
    4. Measure 500 mL of fixer into graduate
    5. After timer goes off, dump water down the drain
  4. Fix
    1. Pour fixer into tank
    2. Start 4m timer
    3. Agitate for 30s per minute.
    4. After timer goes off, dump fixer back into container (mark usage)
  5. Rinse
    1. Attach Jobo Cascade and adjust flow
    2. Start 5m timer
    3. Rinse graduate
    4. Measure 500mL of distilled water into graduate
    5. After timer goes off, dump water down the drain
  6. PhotoFlo
    1. Add 2.5mL of PhotoFlo to tank
    2. Pour distilled water into tank
    3. Start 1m timer
    4. Agitate periodically
    5. After timer goes off, dump water down the drain
  7. Dry
    1. Open tank and remove film
    2. Squeegee with clean gloved fingers dipped in tank
    3. Hang diagonally to dry

Notes

  1. These are my personal procedures, are subject to change, and may not be optimal for everyone.
  2. Development times assume EI 400.
  3. Kodak says to pour developer in the tank, and then put the reel in the tank. I don’t think most people do it this way.
  4. In general, faster and more agitation results in more contrast and grain, but Kodak recommends pretty vigorous agitation for T-MAX 400.
  5. Jobo Cascade Instructions: Push it firmly into the center opening of the tank, open the water tap carefully, water flows out through the openings in the tank lid. Now close the little hole on the transparent tube with a finger, this will close the air intake, the water will rise in the tube. Adjust the water flow with the tap so that the water level is steady between the two red lines on the tube, then unblock the air intake again.
  6. TF-5 fixer capacity: 15-20 rolls per liter of working solution where working solution is 1L stock + 3L distilled water = 4L working solution.

References