Another Dumb A** move

[Paul Howell]

Just when I think I've every bone head move, did not read the fine print and bought Fomadon LQR rather than Foadon LQN. I would not have guessed that Foma still made a high contrast developer and provided times for 100, 200, and 400 which are not contrast films. Then again I did not read the Foma data sheet which made it very clear. So, of course I bought a couple bottles of the wrong stuff shot a roll of Fomapan 200 and developed in the the wrong stuff, did not turn out well. Need to reorder.

 

[Vaughn]

I wonder if any of our resident chemists would know how to calm it down a little to match Foadon LQN.

 

[Donald Qualls]

One of the simple ways I've created low contrast developers (for microfilm) in the past was simply reducing the level of developing agent.

Ordinary dilution isn't likely the best way to go here, though it can work (I've processed microfilm in Parodinal by using 1:100 dilution and reduced agitation and got very acceptable results, though the speed was nothing to write home about). Dilution with a solution similar to the developer, but without developing agent(s) can produce less of change in grain character than dilution with plain water. The SDS should tell you whether the developer uses carbonate (likely), borax, etc. for its alkali, and for a European product may actually give a hint how much sulfite is in it -- so you'd just make up a solution of sulfite and the appropriate alkali and cut the developer about 1+3 with this solution before diluting for actual processing.

Or you could use the contrast developer you have to develop prints -- it's probably similar to Dektol anyway...

 

[Paul Howell]

I emailed Freestyle, I reread the catalog, no mention that LQR is a high contrast line developer, and LQN is listed as a paper developer. The inside of the Foma 200 box lists LRN but not LQR, so dont know if just misread or got mixed up because Freestyle mixed the developer. Reading the labels and list of ingredients seems that Clayton D76+ might be very close to LQN, or just default to D76. I have MCM 100 but wanted to give Foma 200 a try with a Foma developer and accroding to Fomapan 200 and 400 datasheets LQN gives very close to box speed.

 

[Alan Johnson]

If you compare the MSDS for LQN and LQR the latter seems to have about 3x as much HQ and more alkali so for an experiment try diluting it 3x more than recommended. If that is not active enough add a bit of phenidone as there is dimezone- S in LQN.

 

[Paul Howell]

Thanks, makes sense, but not the worth the price of box of film, will just reorder or dig out a bag of D76 clone.