Can part of a roll of TMax 400 be push-processed to ISO 1600 while the rest is developed normally?
Asked 6/14/2019
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I shot a 36-exposure roll of Kodak TMax 400, but only 10 frames were metered/exposed at ISO 1600. The rest were shot normally. If I take the roll to a lab, how should I ask them to develop it? Are there any scanning recommendations for a roll where only part of it was effectively pushed?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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I have a film strip with TMax-400. Out of 36 frames, I pushed 10 of them to ISO 1600.
In the future, use the same camera ISO setting for the entire cassette. Push/pull development is done on the entire roll at once, unless you have your own darkroom.
If I want it to develop in my local store. How should I instruct them to develop my negatives?
First, decide how important the 10 frames are vs the 26. Then consider developing for the frames you consider more important.
Standard development. The 26 will be developed appropriately. The 10 will be underdeveloped two stops.
Push development by one stop. The 26 will be overdeveloped one stop. The 10 will be underdeveloped one stop. Based on Hueco's answer to your previous question, this should work fine.
Push development by two stops. The 26 will overdeveloped by two stops. The 10 will appropriately developed.
Hueco mentions stand development. I know some labs do this, but it's mainly a home technique. I've tried it twice and ruined the film both times, so don't expect miracles. When starting out with home development, the best way to have it go well from the start is to do everything by the book. Then gradually start experimenting.
Also what are scanning suggestions for this situation?
As long as the density of the negatives is close to normal, you can adjust scanner settings using your "normal" process. If the negatives are too far gone either way, it'll be hopeless.
Just consider it all part of the learning process.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
7y ago
0
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A lab normally develops the entire roll the same way, so you can’t selectively push only 10 frames on a standard roll. Push/pull processing applies to the whole cassette unless you cut and process sections separately in darkness.
Your realistic choices are:
- develop normally: the 26 normal frames should be fine, and the 10 ISO 1600 frames will be about 2 stops underdeveloped/underexposed
- push the whole roll 1 stop: a compromise; the normal frames will be somewhat overdeveloped and the ISO 1600 frames still about 1 stop short
- push the whole roll 2 stops: best for the 10 pushed frames, but the other 26 may be overly dense/high contrast
If the 10 important frames are consecutive and at one end of the roll, a skilled person could cut and process that section separately in a darkroom/changing bag, but most labs won’t do this.
For scanning, tell the lab the roll has mixed exposure/development needs and ask for scans adjusted frame-by-frame rather than one automatic setting for the whole roll. The underexposed frames may need brighter scans and will likely show more grain and less shadow detail.
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