I have a few rolls of HP 5+ film that was given to me years ago, by a friend
who rolled old his own. How might the age matter with processing time? Could
someone suggest a good starting time to try please?
As others have said, you just have to try.
My experience with outdated films was that age increased the level of fog
and/or decreased the speed. HP5+ has such a long response curve that in most
situations you can safely ‘over expose’ it by a full stop and still get good
negatives. Doubling the exposure will lift the shadows out of any slight
increase in fog without blocking highlights. You will very quickly discover
whether this amount of exposure increase is necessary or desirable. (Even with
fresh film I get better results in the shadows when I give about a half stop
more exposure than the manufacturer recommends.)
Graded enlarging paper tends to lose contrast with age. I don’t know with any
degree of certainty whether film exhibits the same behaviour.
Trying “standard” development with a roll you’ve already exposed will give you
a great deal of information, so that’s the place to start (unless those
exposures are uniquely important, in which case it would be best to do careful
tests first with another roll).
Let us know how it goes! … makes me want to get back in the darkroom. Ah! The
smell of fixer in the morning.
Myron
P.S. Have any of your noticed the strong, acidic (?), rather distasteful smell
of Ilford’s RC multigrade paper after processing? It seems to be independent
of processing method and washing time. All papers have a scent, but Ilford’s
seems to be strongest, and unlike any others I’ve sniffed. Any idea what it
is??
I have a few rolls of HP 5+ film that was given to me years ago, by a friend
who rolled old his own. How might the age matter with processing time? Could
someone suggest a good starting time to try please?
