- Joined
- Mar 11, 2005
- Messages
- 73
- Format
- 35mm
Having given up on xtol long ago, I've instead been using a simple substitute for several months. Pat Gainer's many articles inspired me to experiment with ascorbic acid untill I finnally formulated the developer for which I'll list the ingredients below. This developer exceeds(in my opinion) xtol in both acutance and fineness of grain. You do pick up a little film speed with this developer.
I normally only mix as little as I need for what exposed film I have on hand to develope, and normally use tap water. However, if you plan on mixing extra and want to store it, I'd suggest you use distilled water. I do not know its keeping properties. The sodium ascorbate is distribute by Bronson, and I find it in vitamin stores. The phenidone solution is a 1% solution using 91 to 99 percent alcohol, though I've used 70% alcohol and it(the phenidone solution) kept very well. This formula is a slight correction of a formula I posted on Pure Silver. My mistake there was I'd listed 8 grams instead of 5 grams of Sodium Ascorbate.
LSD-6 (Low Sulfite Developer)
Water 750 ml
Sodium Sulfite (A) 30 grams (approx 4 teaspoons)
Sodium Ascorbate Powder 5 grams (approx 1 teaspoon)
Phenidone 1% solution 5 ml (approx 1 teaspoon)
Water to Make 1 liter
I rarely pull out the scales, just use the teaspoon measures.
A good starting point for developing t-max and delta films is 11 minutes @ 72 Degrees F, and older type films for 10 minutes @ 72 Degrees F. I've actually developed 8 different types of film all at the same time in the same soup for the exact same time and got negatives that would all properly print on # 2 paper. WITH the exception of FOMA film. It was over developed.
I believe anyone that tries this formula will be very please with it.
Bill Williams
I normally only mix as little as I need for what exposed film I have on hand to develope, and normally use tap water. However, if you plan on mixing extra and want to store it, I'd suggest you use distilled water. I do not know its keeping properties. The sodium ascorbate is distribute by Bronson, and I find it in vitamin stores. The phenidone solution is a 1% solution using 91 to 99 percent alcohol, though I've used 70% alcohol and it(the phenidone solution) kept very well. This formula is a slight correction of a formula I posted on Pure Silver. My mistake there was I'd listed 8 grams instead of 5 grams of Sodium Ascorbate.
LSD-6 (Low Sulfite Developer)
Water 750 ml
Sodium Sulfite (A) 30 grams (approx 4 teaspoons)
Sodium Ascorbate Powder 5 grams (approx 1 teaspoon)
Phenidone 1% solution 5 ml (approx 1 teaspoon)
Water to Make 1 liter
I rarely pull out the scales, just use the teaspoon measures.
A good starting point for developing t-max and delta films is 11 minutes @ 72 Degrees F, and older type films for 10 minutes @ 72 Degrees F. I've actually developed 8 different types of film all at the same time in the same soup for the exact same time and got negatives that would all properly print on # 2 paper. WITH the exception of FOMA film. It was over developed.
I believe anyone that tries this formula will be very please with it.
Bill Williams
