9.1 minutes @ 22°C (72°F)

Agitate 5s every 30s.

From:             Ken Sinclair [SINCLAIR@ABRSLE.AGR.CA]
Date sent:        08 Mar 1996 11:13:44 -0400 (EDT)
Subject:          HIE and Tmax RS
To:               "w.j.markerink" 

Yes, I am involved in professional photography, in that I am employed at (for now) the largest agricultural research centre in Canada. (Federal Dept. of AgricultureI look after the imaging needs of about 75 scientists, 15 post doctoral Fellows and a few graduate students. I run a *one-man shop*.

I have not used the colour IR (Ektachrome) since 1985, when Kodak stipped selling the *components* of the E-4 processing chemicals, and there is only one lab in the US running an E-4 processing line. I may take up to six weeks to have your film processed since they receive film until they have enough to make a batch worth while. When I have had the need of colour IR I cannot wait that length of time to have my film processed. I usually needed the results within 2 hours and was thus *forced* to do it for myself.

Tmax RS is the *commercial equivalent* of Tmax developer. The RS designation is for those running a *Replenisment System*. The developer comes in a box of two, one gallon (US) containers [part A] and two plastic pouches [part B] (which I believe is the di- ethylene glycol). Here, on this side of the Atlantic, the catalogue no. is 825-4237 and makes 38 litres per 2 bottles plus the 2 pouches. I regularly use it one-shot in 500 ml tanks or as 4 litre batch for my Wing-Lynch rotary film processor, which I use to process 35 mm Ektachrome, Sheet 4x5 and all B/W films. It is, of course much more expensive than either D76 or HC110, since Kodak do have to cover the cost of shipping all that liquid rather than a syrup or a powder.
It is REALLY important that you use DISTILLED water otherwise your IR film will develop pinholes like you have never seen on a film before.
I am not sure of the actual difference in the formulation but I imagine that some questions could be put to the Kodak technical representative in your area.

I use an *ASA* value of 200
I process my Kodak IR film in a 500 ml tank
IE 200. .Tmax-RS..1:9...70°F...9 min (#25 filter)

[Note WJ: equals 21°C]

I have been thinking of trying to process Sheet infra red film in Pyrogallol staining developer, to see if A) it can be done, and B see if it will reduce the amount of density in the highlights I do not have the time for experimentation just now, since I have been working about 11-12 hour each day for the past year or so. BUT maybe when the summer days are here....

Later

Ken

If you have any question, remark, comment, want to share some philosophy or just want to express your opinion about these pages, feel free to send email to: w.j.markerink @ a1.nl