HARMAN technology Limited

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

FP4 PLUS
ISO 125/22º, BLACK AND WHITE PROFESSIONAL FILM
FOR HIGH PRINT QUALITY AND FLEXIBILITY IN USE
ILFORD FP4 Plus is an exceptionally fine grain, medium speed black and white film. It is ideal for
high quality indoor and outdoor photography, particularly when giant enlargements are to be made. In
addition to general photography, FP4 Plus is also suited to copying and internegative work, and has many
applications in scientific, technical and industrial photography.

FP4 Plus is robust and will give usable results even if it is overexposed by as much as six stops, or
underexposed by two stops. It is compatible with all major processing systems, including those which give the
standard short fixing and washing times.

FP4 Plus 35mm film is coated on 0.125mm/5-mil acetate base and is available
in 24 or 36 exposure cassettes, or in bulk lengths of 17 or 30.5 metres (56 and
100ft). FP4 Plus 35mm film is supplied in DX coded cassettes, suitable for all
35mm cameras.

FP4 Plus roll film is coated on 0.110mm/4-mil clear acetate base with an anti-
halation backing which clears during development. It is available in 120 lengths
and is edge numbered 1 to 19.

FP4 Plus sheet film is coated on 0.180mm/7-mil polyester base with an anti-
halation backing which clears during development. It is available in a wide range of standard sizes. The
emulsion faces the user when sheet film is held in the position shown opposite.

EXPOSURE RATING
FP4 Plus has a speed rating of ISO 125/22º to daylight. The ISO speed rating was measured using
ILFORD ID-11 developer at 20ºC/68ºF with intermittent agitation in a spiral tank.
Best results are obtained at EI 125/22, but good image quality will also be obtained at meter settings from EI
50/18 to EI 200/24. It should be noted that the exposure index (EI) range recommended for FP4 Plus is based
on a practical evaluation of film speed and is not based on foot speed, as is the ISO standard.

SPECTRAL SENSITIVITY
Wedge spectrogram to tungsten light (2850K)

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FP4 PLUS Technical Information

FILTER FACTORS
FP4 Plus film may be used with all types of filters (e.g. colour, polarising and neutral density filters) in the usual
way. Follow the instructions given by the filter manufacturer.
The exposure increase in daylight may vary with the angle of the sun and the time of day. In the late afternoon
or the winter months, when daylight contains more red light, green and blue filters may need slightly more
exposure than usual.
Cameras with through-the-lens metering will usually adjust the exposure automatically when using filters. With
some automatic exposure cameras, the correction given for deep red and orange filters can produce negatives
under exposed by as much as 1½ stops.

MAKING LONG EXPOSURES

For exposures between ½ and 1/10 000 second, no
adjustments are needed for reciprocity law failure.

When exposures longer than ½ second are given, FP4

Plus, along with other films, needs to be given more
exposure than indicated by a meter. Use the graph to
calculate the increased exposure time which should be
given once the metered time is known.

The graph is based on the formulae Ta = Tm1.26

Ta = Adjusted Time
Tm = Metered Time

CHOOSING THE BEST ILFORD DEVELOPER FOR THE JOB

Manual processing Spiral tank, dish/tray, deep tank Including rotary processors
Liquid Powder
Best overall image quality ILFOTEC DD-X ID-11 (stock)
Finest grain ILFOTEC DD-X PERCEPTOL (stock)
Maximum sharpness ILFOSOL 3 (1+9) ID-11 (1+3)
Maximum film speed ILFOTEC DD-X MICROPHEN (stock)
Economy ILFOTEC LC29 (1+29) ID-11 (1+3)
MICROPHEN (1+3)
One-shot convenience ILFOSOL 3 (1+9) ID-11 (1+1)
ILFOTEC DD-X MICROPHEN (1+1)
Replenishable ILFOTEC DD-X ID-11

Machine Processing
Dip and dunk ILFOTEC DD Best overall image quality (liquid) and long tank life

Short leader ILFOTEC RT RAPID Rapid processing, best overall image quality and
long tank life.
Roller transport ILFOTEC RT RAPID Rapid processing

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DEVELOPMENT TIMES
The table below gives development times for both manual and machine processing FP4 Plus. These times will
produce negatives of average contrast suitable for printing in all enlargers. The development times are intended
as a guide and may be altered if a different result is needed.
For manual processing in spiral tanks and deep tanks, the development times are based on intermittent
agitation. Where continuous agitation is used for manual processing (as in a dish/tray or with some types of
developing tank), reduce these times by up to 15%. For use in rotary processors without a pre-rinse, reduce the
spiral tank development times by up to15%. A pre-rinse is not recommended as it can lead to uneven
processing.
35mm and Roll Film
Meter setting (EI)
ILFORD developer Dilution
50/18 125/22 200/24

Spiral tank, deep tank, dip and dunk machines (min/20 °C/68°F)
ILFOTEC DD-X 1+4 8 10 12
ILFOSOL 3 1+9 - 4¼ -
1+14 - 7½ -
ILFOTEC HC 1+15 - 4 5
1+31 6 8 9
ILFOTEC LC29 1+9 - 4 5
1+19 6 8 9
1+29 8 12 -
ID-11 stock 6½ 8½ 10
1+1 8 11 15
1+3 17 20 -
MICROPHEN stock - 8 9
1+1 - 10 14
1+3 - 14 18
PERCEPTOL stock 9 12 -
1+1 13 15 -
1+3 17 21 -
Non-ILFORD Developers (min/20°C/68°F)
Acufine stock - 4 6
Rodinal 1+25 - 9 13
1+50 - 15 20
Kodak D-76 stock 6 8 9
1+1 9 11 15
1+3 14 16 20
Kodak HC-110 A - 4½ 6
B 6 9 12
Kodak T-Max 1+4 - 8 9
Tetenal Ultrafin SF Stock - 7 9
1+1 - 11 14
Tetenal Ultrafin
1+4 - 6 9
Plus
Kodak Xtol stock - 8½ 10

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FP4 PLUS Technical Information

35mm and Roll Film

Meter setting (EI)
ILFORD developer Dilution
50/18 125/22 200/24

Dip and dunk machines (min/24°C/75°F)

ILFOTEC DD 1+4 7 8½ 11½
Kodak T-Max RS stock - 7½ -
Kodak Xtol stock - 7 10½

ILFOLAB FP40, roller transport and short leader machines (sec/26°C/79°F)

ILFOTEC RT RAPID 1+1+2 40 45 54
1+1+5 55 65 84

METER SETTINGS BELOW EI50/18 AND ABOVE EI 200/24

If FP4 Plus has been inadvertently exposed at settings below EI 50/18 or above EI 200/24, the following guide
will ensure usable negatives are obtained. Obviously, the quality of negatives processed in this way will not be
so high as conventionally processed ones.

Manual processing (min /20°C/68°F) accidental exposure only

Meter setting 25/15 Meter setting 400/27
Developer Dilution and below and above
MICROPHEN Stock - 16
PERCEPTOL Stock 8½ -

Note. Development times may need adjusting to suit individual processing systems and working practices. If an
established system is producing good results, adjust the recommended development times until the desired
contrast level is obtained. Development times for some other manufacturers’ developers are included for your
convenience and are only a general guide. Other manufacturers can and do change their product
specifications from time to time, and the development times may change as a result.

Processing at Different Temperatures

FP4 Plus film can be processed over a range of temperatures. Development times at temperatures other than
20°C/68°F may be calculated from the charts below. For example, if 4 minutes at 20°C/68°F is
recommended, the time at 23°C/73°F will be 3 min and the time at 16°C/61°F will be 6 min.

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CHARACTERISTIC CURVE

FP4 Plus roll film developed in ILFORD ILFOTEC HC (1+31) for 8 minutes at
20°C/68°F with intermittent agitation. This curve is also
representative of the 35mm and sheet film formats.

PROCESSING
FP4 Plus can be processed in all types of processing equipment including spiral tanks, rotary processors,
dishes/trays, deep tanks and automatic processors. Standard capacity figures and replenishment rates can be
maintained. FP4 Plus is very robust in processing and will tolerate less than ideal processing conditions. Also, it
will not contaminate the processing chemicals.

Safelight recommendations
Handle FP4 Plus film in total darkness.

Agitation
Intermittent agitation is recommended for use in spiral tanks and deep tanks. With spiral tanks, invert the tank
four times during the first 10 seconds, then invert the tank four times again during the first 10 seconds of each
further minute. Otherwise, follow the recommendations given by the processing equipment manufacturer.
For sheet film, continuous agitation is recommended in dishes/trays by rocking the dish/tray.

Stop, fix, wash and rinse

For best results it is recommended that all process solutions are kept at the same temperature or at least within
5ºC (9ºF) of the developer temperature.

Stop Bath
After development the film can be rinsed in
water but we recommend that an acid stop ILFORD ILFOSTOP
bath is used such as ILFORD ILFOSTOP (with
indicator dye). ILFOSTOP is also Dilution 1+19
recommended for all machine processing
applications. When tanks or dishes (trays) of Temperature Range 18–24ºC (64–75ºF)
process solutions are in use a stop bath
immediately stops development and reduces Time (sec) at 20ºC (68ºF) 10
carry over of excess developer into the fixer
bath. This helps to maintain the activity and Capacity (films per litre,
15x (135-36)
prolong the life of the fixer solution. unreplenished)

The process time given is the minimum required, if necessary, a longer time may be used and should not cause
any process problems provided it is not excessive

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FP4 PLUS Technical Information

Fix
The recommended fixers are ILFORD RAPID ILFORD RAPID OR HYPAM FIXERS
FIXER or ILFORD HYPAM FIXER.
Dilution 1+4
Wash
Wash the films in running water for 5–10 Temperature Range 18–24ºC (64–75ºF)
minutes at a temperature within 5ºC (9ºF) of
the process temperature. Or see note below Time (mins) at 20ºC (68ºF) 2-5
for greater economy when using spiral tanks.
Capacity (films per litre,
24x (135-36)
unreplenished)

Note: For spiral tank use, the following method of washing is recommended. This method of washing is faster,
uses less water yet still gives negatives suitable for long term storage.
After fixing, fill the spiral tank with water at the same temperature, +/– 5ºC (9ºF), as the processing solutions
and invert it five times. Drain the water away and refill. Invert the tank ten times. Once more drain the water
away and refill. Finally, invert the tank twenty times and drain the water away.

Rinse
For a final rinse use ILFORD ILFOTOL wetting agent added to water, it helps the film to dry rapidly and evenly.
Start by using 5ml per litre of rinse water (1+200), however the amount of ILFOTOL used may need some
adjustment depending on the local water quality and drying method. Too little or too much wetting agent can
lead to uneven drying. Remove excess rinse solution from the film before drying.

Drying
To avoid drying marks, use a clean squeegee or chamois cloth to wipe FP4 Plus film before hanging it to dry.
Dry FP4 Plus at 30–40°C/86-104°F in a drying cabinet or at room temperature in a clean dust-free area.

STORAGE
For immediate use, store FP4 Plus in a cool (10–20°C/50-68°F), dry place in its original packaging.
FP4 Plus may be stored in a fridge/freezer but allow plenty of time for the film to acclimatise prior to use.

Exposed film
Once exposed, process FP4 Plus as soon as practical.
Exposed films should always be stored in cool, dry conditions - as recommended above.

Negatives
Store processed negatives in a cool (10–20°C/50-68°F), dry place, in the dark. Suitable storage sleeves
include those made of cellulose triacetate, Mylar, paper (pH6.5–7.5) or inert polyester.

A wide range of fact sheets is available which describe and give guidance on using ILFORD PHOTO products.
Some products in this fact sheet might not be available in your country.

HARMAN technology Limited, Ilford Way, Mobberley,

Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 7JL, England
www.ilfordphoto.com

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