Beers print developer

Jennifer · Apr 15, 2005

Hi,
I was wondering if ascorbic acid in place of the hydroquione in the beers print developer would work. Any thoughts on this. Any other variable contrast print developers that could use ascorbic acid and not hydroquione.

Jennifer

Tom Hoskinson · Apr 15, 2005

Yes, in principle you can substitute ascorbic acid for hydroquinone. You might also wish to replace the Metol in the A solution with phenidone. Take a look in the Chemistry Recipes section for ideas.

Claire Senft · Apr 15, 2005

You may well be able to replace the hydroquione with ascorbic acid. However, I doubt that this would make a decent replacement for the hydroquinone for the contemplated usage of DeBeers where you have a high contrast and a low contrast developers that is meant to be intermixed for different contrast grades. I believe that you would end up with two solutions having similar contrast characteristics.

dancqu · Apr 15, 2005

Jennifer said:
Hi, I was wondering if ascorbic acid in place of the hydroquione
in the beers print developer would work. Any thoughts on this.
Any other variable contrast print developers that could use
ascorbic acid and not hydroquione.

I'm presently working with Beers'. Today I'll blend a 1/8th portion
of a 1/8th liter of stock Beers B with a 7/8th portion of a 1/8th liter
of stock Beers A. I'll then have a 1/8 liter of stock Beers 2. The
remaining 7/8 B will be combined with the 1/8 A to make a 1/8
liter of stock Beers 7.

I'll test Beers 1 and 2 this evening with a negative which does not
need Beers 7. If there is very little difference twixt 1 and 2 then
I may not need have one or the other on hand.

At this point I believe the hydroquinone plays an active roll.
IIRC, the ph is around 10.5 and the most exposed halides are being
reduced. I've doubts the same could be said for ascorbic acid.

Metol and Hydroquinone are likely a unique combination
for contrast control. Dan

Claire Senft · Apr 16, 2005

Changed my mind

I do not believe that the DeBeers solution B with Hydroquinone as the single developing agent will function as a developer at all if the hydroquinone is replaced by ascorbic acid. It is my understanding that the ascorbic acid is only useful to achieve super additivity when used with another developing agent; Therefore, I have strong doubts that the idea of replacing the hydroquinone with ascorbic acid would work. I do believe that one could replace the sulphite in the A developer with ascorbic acid and end up with a more active developer with perhaps a reduction in useful life when put into a tray and quite possibly the bottle. The role of the sulphite is, in this case, I believe, to be a preservative.

dancqu · Apr 17, 2005

Claire Senft said:
"I do not believe that the DeBeers solution B with Hydroquinone
as the single developing agent will function as a developer at all ..."

In the usuall sense "not ... at all ..." period. But, it may do well
as a lith developer. The 1:3:4 ratio of agent to sulfite to carbonate
is close to that of Wall's Normal Hydroquinone; 1:5:6. Beer's B ratios
are actually close to those of a developer I compounded and tested.
With extended development, to my surprise, it was a lith developer.
Have you done any lith processing? I'll be testing Beer's B as
a lith developer. Dan

dancqu · Apr 24, 2005

An aside: Beers' A is the exact same as Ansco 120 print
developer save for it being 2/3 strength. If you use Ansco
120 you've half of the Beers' multicontrast developer.

Ansco/Beers' A makes a FX-1 type of film developer. My
next roll of Pan F+ will use the 120 strength at a 1:23 dilution;
1:15 for the Beers'. The 1:19 Ansco, 500ml working strength,
was a little strong. Dan

gbroadbridge · Apr 26, 2005

Beer for developer?

Jennifer said:
Hi,
I was wondering if ascorbic acid in place of the hydroquione in the beers print developer would work. Any thoughts on this. Any other variable contrast print developers that could use ascorbic acid and not hydroquione.
Jennifer

Jeeps, you chemistry nuts are scary sometimes

Beer as a developer (what a good, cheap, and easy alternative), then I read the thread.

When you nutters do work out how to use beer as developer may I suggest at least 5% alcohol <hic>

Beers print developer

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