A problem with my first batch of Pyrocat_HD

john_s

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I have been using some home made Pyrocat-HD, made of chemicals from Vanbar in Melbourne (Australia) who are generally pretty good with their source of bulk chemicals. Results have been promising, but shadow detail has been unexpectedly low. So I've done a proper Zone test on 120 HP5+ (I know I should have done it in the first place) and have found speed to be under 100. Contrast in Zones 3 and beyond is quite high (not a worry at the moment). I'm using 1+1+100. Non-rotary tank.

I suspected that the phenidone might have been stale (it was a bit brown) but the chemical guy at Vanbar said that some POTA had recently been made with that batch and it had been fine. This seems a good enough test to me.

I am pretty careful with measurements, but it's not beyond possibility that I made a mistake. Would adding too much potassium bromide be a cause of depressed shadows combined with minimal effect at higher zones? I intend to mix another batch very soon.

I've been a PMK user for a while and I've enjoyed the long shelf life of mixed PMK. The phenidone in Pyrocat-HD does give it a shorter shelf life. Also, I understand that phenidone usually requires a restrainer to control fog.

If I use metol (25g/Litre of Part_A) instead of phenidone could I dispense with the bromide altogether? If using metol costs me 1/3 of a stop I don't mind. I don't do rotary processing, and don't get much general fog from PMK, although the negs don't look as clean as the Pyrocat-HD ones. Would doing this affect the qualities of Pyrocat-HD when used with minimal agitation?
 

sanking

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john_s

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Thanks, Sandy, for your prompt and informative reply.

I have just made up some fresh "PMC" that was one of your earlier formulas. I mixed it without bromide, and with 25g/L metol, and got a healthy 200 speed out of HP5+.

As soon as i can, i'll mix up some more real pyrocat-HD with phenidone and bromide.

Could you explain why bromide gives more speed? Would varying bromide change acutance effects? I'm particularly interested in semi-stand development with half-strength pyrocat-HD. Even my faulty batch gave me brilliant, lively sharpness.
 

sanking

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