KODAK T-MAX P3200 Professional Film

DARKROOM RECOMMENDATIONS

Do not use a safelight. Handle unprocessed film in total darkness. Do not develop this film by inspection.

Note: Some darkroom timers will glow (fluoresce) for some time after you turn off the lights in a darkroom. To avoid fogging this film, turn the face of timers away from the area where you handle unprocessed film.

The afterglow from fluorescent lights will also fog this film. Make sure your darkroom is completely dark before you handle unprocessed film.

STORAGE AND HANDLING

KODAK T-MAX P3200 Professional Film is very sensitive to environmental radiation; expose and process it promptly. Request visual inspection of this film at airport x-ray inspection stations.

Store unexposed film at 75°F (24°C) or lower in the original sealed package. For protection from heat in areas with temperatures consistently higher than 75°F (24°C), you can store the film in a refrigerator. If film has been refrigerated, allow the package to warm up to room temperature for 1 to 1 1/2 hours before opening it.

Load and unload your camera in subdued light, and rewind the film completely before unloading the camera.

Store processed film in a cool, dry place.

EXPOSURE

KODAK T-MAX P3200 Professional Film is specially designed to be used as a multi-speed film. The speed you use depends on your application; make tests to determine the appropriate speed.

The nominal speed is EI 1000 when the film is processed in KODAK T-MAX Developer or KODAK T-MAX RS Developer and Replenisher, or EI 800 when it is processed in other Kodak black-and-white developers. It was determined in a manner published in ISO standards. For ease in calculating exposure and for consistency with the commonly used scale of film-speed numbers, the nominal speed has been rounded to EI 800.

Because of its great latitude, you can expose this film at EI 1600 and yield negatives of high quality. There will be no change in the grain of the final print, but there may be a slight loss of shadow detail. When you need a higher speed, you can expose this film at EI 3200 or 6400. At these speeds, there will be a slight increase in contrast and graininess with additional loss of shadow detail. (See the processing tables for adjusted development times.)

Because of the shape of the characteristic curve of the film, you will obtain better shadow detail and highlight separation when you expose it at EI 3200 or 6400 than you can obtain with 400-speed films pushed by 3 stops. These higher speeds allow you to take photographs in many situations where photography was previously impossible.

To expose this film at speeds higher than EI 6400, it is critical that you make tests to determine if the results are appropriate for your needs. For best results when you expose the film at these speeds, use T-MAX Developer or T-MAX RS Developer and Replenisher.

Note: Contrast and graininess will increase when you use higher exposure indexes.

To expose film at speed settings that are higher than the maximum setting on your camera or meter, set the meter at a lower speed; then reduce the aperture or increase the shutter speed to compensate.

You can also expose this film at EI 400 and obtain outstanding shadow detail. See the processing tables.

The speed numbers for this film are expressed as Exposure Indexes (EI). Use these exposure indexes with meters or cameras marked for ISO/ASA or ISO°/DIN speeds in daylight or artificial light.

Adjustments for Long and Short Exposures

At the exposure times in the table below, compensate for the reciprocity characteristics of this film by increasing the exposure as shown.

Filter Corrections

Increase exposure by the filter factor or the number of stops indicated when you use filters. For greatest exposure accuracy with a through-the-lens meter, take the meter reading without the filter over the lens, and then increase your exposure as shown in the table.

PROCESSING

Handle unprocessed film in total darkness. Do not develop this film by inspection.

With properly exposed film, the starting-point development times in the tables should produce negative contrast suitable for printing with a diffusion enlarger. For printing with a condenser enlarger, you may want to reduce the development time to produce a lower contrast; as a starting point, you can use the development time for the exposure index one stop lower than the exposure index you used to expose the film (see the processing tables). For example, if you exposed your film at EI 3200 and will print the negatives with a condenser enlarger, use the development time given for EI 1600.

MANUAL PROCESSING

Small-Tank Processing (8- or 16-ounce tank)

With small single- or double-reel tanks, drop the loaded film reel into the developer and attach the top to the tank. Firmly tap the tank on the top of the work surface to dislodge any air bubbles. Provide initial agitation of 5 to 7 inversion cycles in 5 seconds, i.e., extend your arm and vigorously twist your wrist 180 degrees.

Then repeat this agitation procedure at 30-second intervals for the rest or the development time.

MANUAL PROCESSING

Large-Tank Processing (1/2- to 3 1/2-gallon tank)

Agitate continuously for the first 15 to 30 seconds by raising and lowering the basket, rack, or spindle 1/2 inch. Do not agitate the basket, rack, or spindle for the remainder of the first minute. Then agitate once per minute by lifting the basket, rack, or spindle out of the developer, tilting it approximately 30 degrees, draining it for 5 to 10 seconds, and reimmersing it. Alternate the direction of tilting the basket, rack, or spindle.

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F-32  • September, 2000