Developing overexposed Tri-X

[Terry McDaniel]

I forgot to set the ISO dial on my F1 to 400, shot the entire roll of Tri-X 400 at 100. How much time do I need to take off 9:45 seconds? (Recommended time for Tri-X in D-76)

 

[ShipleyNW]

I forgot to set the ISO dial on my F1 to 400, shot the entire roll of Tri-X 400 at 100. How much time do I need to take off 9:45 seconds? (Recommended time for Tri-X in D-76)

Damn, you're taking me back 40 years. I used to be the king of Tri-X.

What kind of shots are on the roll? Was the scene contrasty? Dial back your development time maybe 20-25%. Might even look better than if shot at 400. Might push the scene back into the film's dynamic range. If the scene was flatter, just develop as normal. Use the film's whole dynamic range.

You've unwittingly stumbled into the zone system. Exposure regulates the density of the film's emulsion, development strips away emulsion and determines contrast. Since you overexposed the film, you'll have good shadow detail (density), so you cut back on development to rein in the highlights (contrast). If the scene was flat, with a compressed dynamic range, maybe you don't have any real bright highlights. In that case, develop as normal to push the contrast. Get some good blacks and whites.

Tri-X is pretty forgiving. If you're not sure, I'd say 8 minutes. Good or bad it will be a flatter negative than usual, but nothing a contrast filter in the enlarger won't fix.

 

[Terry McDaniel]

Thanks. Mostly nature stuff, a couple of indoor shots of my dog. Gonna develop it today, see what happens.

 

[Terry McDaniel]

From the overexposed TriX. Processed for 8 minutes in D-76 (first time using it). I had to darken the photos quite a bit with Photo Gallery, then reduce contrast on most of them.
Turner Falls and Collings Castle. 50mm and 200mm respectively.

 

[Terry McDaniel]

Same photo, before and after Photo Gallery. Mostly just reduced the highlights to bring out the clouds a bit better.

 

[Terry McDaniel]

This one took a lot of playing around.