Barry Thornton Luxol and diLuxol - any info?

philpem · Jul 4, 2018

Some years ago I picked up a box of photographic kit and chemistry. Included in said box were two packs:

* Barry Thornton's Fine Print Workshop diLuxol two-bath compensating film developer
* Barry Thornton's Fine Print Workshop Luxol compensating film developer

Both of these carry copyright dates of 2002 and are in sealed bags.

Are they likely to still be usable -- and if so, in what situation might I want to use them over say Rodinal (RO9 OneShot is my go-to mainly because it lasts forever) or ID-11/Perceptol?

Thanks
Phil

Kevin Caulfield · Jul 5, 2018

If they are powder they could still be okay.

Alan Johnson · Jul 5, 2018

Are they liquids? Sandy King suggests a similarity to Pyrocat HD:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/dixactol.1168/

philpem · Jul 5, 2018

Yep -- they're powders. diLuxol is a two-part developer (develop in part A first, then in part B) while Luxol is more like a conventional developer.

Kino · Jul 5, 2018

Barry Thornton went into great detail on his developer formulations and use in his book "Edge of Darkness". I have a copy at home and can have a look tonight.

I bought a copy just shortly before he passed away and was disappointed his formulas became almost impossible to finds shortly thereafter, although I think you can finds some of them at Photographer's Formulary.

Here's another thread on Thornton: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/where-has-the-barry-thornton-website-gone.144089/

MattKing · Jul 5, 2018

The real problem might be that you might use them and like them. Then what would you do?

KenS · Jul 5, 2018

I 'tried' them for a few sheets of both 4x5 and 8x10... no disappointment but now much prefer using Pyrocat HD tube (Now the ONLY film developer in my darkroom.... mixed from 'scratch' with distilled water for use in my BTZS tubes ([as they 'float and spin (always in 'pairs) in a Tupperware tub]

Ken

craigclu · Jul 7, 2018

I don't trust my memory exactly but was it DiXactol that seemed interchangeable with PyroCat? I recall using it and falling heavily for the results and easy-to-print negatives. Not wanting winter delivery of liquid chems to my Wisconsin address, I tried my first PyroCat and got such similar results that I decided to run with it.

craigclu · Jul 8, 2018

I realize after looking over some old materials that it was Prescysol that seemed so similar to PyroCat.... Give us old guys a little slack on the details!

AgX · Jul 8, 2018

Kino said:
Barry Thornton went into great detail on his developer formulations and use in his book "Edge of Darkness". I have a copy at home and can have a look tonight.

There he gives the formula for a 2 bath developer (not a 2 part).

philpem · Jul 8, 2018

See, the problem with threads like this is... now I'm tempted to give Pyrocat a try (if I can find a UK/EU distributor!)

I'm moving towards deionised/distilled water for rinse anyway, I've had recent issues with washing ending in my partner's films drying with nasty dark spots... even after a re-wash in distilled water + precisely measured Ilfotol

Alan Johnson · Jul 9, 2018

In the UK Pyrocat HD in Glycol and 510 Pyro are currently available on ebay.

Paul Howell · Jul 9, 2018

AgX said:
There he gives the formula for a 2 bath developer (not a 2 part).

Here in the States Photographer's Formulary sells the liquid version which can be use as a divided developer or mixed as a single use developer for those who use the Zone. I tired it as a divided developer it was fine for 4X5 and 6X9 but too grainy for 35mm for my taste.

AgX · Jul 9, 2018

I got difficulties with the term divided developer. To me it may mean both:

a developer that is mixed just before use from two stock solutions
or a developer consisting out of two baths used in succession.

Kino · Jul 9, 2018

My memory fails me; the developer in "Edge of Darkness" was DiXactol, not DiLuxol...

Paul Howell · Jul 9, 2018

AgX said:
I got difficulties with the term divided developer. To me it may mean both:

a developer that is mixed just before use from two stock solutions
or a developer consisting out of two baths used in succession.

In my way of thinking a divived developer like Dinafine uses 2 baths, the developing agents in the first or A bath, the alkinae in the second or part b. If the developer is mixed before use it no longer divided.

AgX · Jul 10, 2018

Here in Germany we use the term "2-bath developer", which is not ambiguous.

ypkennedy · Jul 17, 2018

AgX said:
Here in Germany we use the term "2-bath developer", which is not ambiguous.

Was Deutsch ist echt.

Barry Thornton Luxol and diLuxol - any info?

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