A question about paper developer temperature

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I feel like I should know this answer because I've been darkroom printing for decades. My questions is should paper developer temperature should be at 68 degrees F? I don't check the temperature because I always to test prints. How does paper developer temperature effect the final print. I also would like to know how it relates to using enlarger meters. Thanks in advance!

 

[cliveh]

I don't check the temperature because I always do test prints.

This is the key to your question. Yes it should be at 68°F or near but if you are doing test strips I don’t think it is critical.

 

[MattKing]

Paper developer works well over a reasonable range of temperatures (usually centred around 68F). If you work within that range (check the manufacturer's recommendations) you may need to adjust your development time to ensure full development, but otherwise use of test strips should prevent any problems arising from gradual changes in temperature.

If your ambient temperatures vary a lot, you may wish to research "factorial development", which is an approach that adjusts your development time based on the changes in emergence time. It also helps compensate for loss of developer activity as the amount of prints processed increases.

 

[nworth]

It does make a difference, but as long as the temperature is above 65F (18C) you probably won't notice it. Proper print development pretty well goes to completion, and the recommended times are generally long enough to work well at any reasonable temperature. Below 65F, hydroquinone, a major component of most print developers, loses activity quickly. So print developers generally do not work well at low temperatures. A really high temperatures (above about 77F), a variety of things can happen. The developer will act more quickly, which may or may not be a factor, and fog is more likely.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Papers are essentially "developed to completion." When one uses this method one watches the print rather than the clock. Therefore, although development is somewhat faster above 68C, it is really that not important.

 

[removed account4]

some paper developers ( with glycin in them like ansco 130 ) work best when used at about 72ºF

 

[ic-racer]

You don't need to develop as long when the developer is warmer. If it is cold then the development needs to be longer. Either way, develop the prints to completion. Since this is not always easy to establish under safelight conditions, a method of timing can be helpful. There should be no interaction with exposure.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I live in Florida and trying to keep house temperatures at 68F would be prohibitively expensive during the summer. Therefor I have always developed prints to completion. I have never had any problem determing this point when using an amber safelight. One does not need to see fine detail only when contrast/demsity changes in the print have slowed. This point is very obvious when you become familiar with the technique.

 

[Arklatexian]

Here in Louisiana, a summer in the darkroom without airconditioning would be brutal, so I have a small unit cooling it. The really old timers (before air conditioning) worked all night sometimes and added ice to the chemicals. Some even worked in their underwear. 68 degrees might be "room temperature" in Europe where photography began, but it certainly isn't here. A small airconditioner keeps my darkroom at 68 degrees all summer long and doesn't use that much electricity.....Regards

 

[jochen]

Hello,
with Kodak D-72 (metol/hydroquinone) 1:1 at 16° C = 61° F I got a weak contrast and long development time.

 

[NickLimegrove]

Hello,
with Kodak D-72 (metol/hydroquinone) 1:1 at 16° C = 61° F I got a weak contrast and long development time.

The problem is that all developers respond to temperature changes with a change of their activity, but different developers respond differently. Compared to Metol, Hydroquinone responds more radically. At low temperatures, it'll hibernate while Metol is still doing its job, and vice versa.

 

[pentaxpete]

I'm envious of you Yanks with your darkroom temperatures !! Here I have to use the radiator or surround the developing dish with hot water ---

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

You Brits are always so civil

I'm envious of you Yanks with your darkroom temperatures !! Here I have to use the radiator or surround the developing dish with hot water ---

Is that what you call a stiff upper lip in a cold darkroom

 

[Gerald C Koch]

You Brits are always so civil

Anyone who thinks that the British are always civil toward each other has never watched their parliament in session. They make our congress look like the epitome of politeness. MP's can be very rude booing and shouting down an unfortunate speaker.