Better prints from shorter print sessions?

gone · Jul 29, 2021

I'm usually in the darkroom for too long, something like 4-7 hours. I don't like to waste good chemistry, so it gets used almost to exhaustion. If the print sessions could be held down to 2 hrs, it might improve the prints and be much more enjoyable. I could focus on just 1-2 negs during those 2 hours.

The plan is to switch to Formulary's Ansco 130 since it can be used for film and paper, but mostly because it and has a long tray life. Can I leave this in trays w/ saran wrap on top for 2-3 days and come back to it? The Liquidol worked if I kept it in the trays overnight, but not beyond that, and any printing had to start and end within 36 hours. It would be better to bump that up to 48, preferably even more..

My trays are for 11x14 prints and they're larger than normal because they're painter trays from Home Depot. The chemicals are usually at least 1" deep because it works better for me, vs keeping a minimal amount in the trays.

Rudeofus · Jul 30, 2021

I use D-72 stock for printing, and the developer lasts for months. I print roughly once per week for several hours, and store the developer in a plastic bottle between sessions. When carryover reduced my 2 liter batch down to one liter, I add another liter of fresh D-72 to get the original volume. These 2 liters will work well with 24x30cm trays, probably even 30x40cm. In the same fashion I use a neutral fixer, which will happily last for at least a month, if throughput is low. Ansco 130 also has excellent shelf life, but the Glycin ingredient makes it very expensive, that's why I gave up on it.

Regarding longer and shorter sessions: the greatest disappointments always happened, when I was under time pressure. "I want to also do this negative today" or "I have to leave in 30 minutes" are guarantors of mediocre prints. Whether you print one or three negatives, print until you are really really done. You will be much happier with one really good print than with two or three prints, which make you think "I should have ..." or "Why didn't I try ...?". If you can achieve this one optimal print in two hours, then that's a good time frame for you.

gone · Jul 30, 2021

Thanks Rudeofus. This is very helpful to me.

I agree, a very good print is better than a dozen that are less than that. Sometimes it's easy, you can get what you want right away. Other times it requires a lot of prints to get just one that's right. Some negs you just have to give up on.

I've been setting specific times and totals for printing, like "tonight I want to get 10 prints done, and work 5 hours or more", but that isn't working. Tiredness sets in before that, I continue on, and mistakes get made. Or even worse, I say "that looks good enough, I'll try later and see if it can be made better". That's just kicking the can down the road.

Sounds like D-72 will work for me. The Ansco 130 is attractive because you can use it for film, but I already have lots of developers that work great, so that isn't as important as I first thought.

TheFlyingCamera · Jul 30, 2021

Ansco 130 will last even in open trays for multiple days, a week if you push it... it'll more likely go bad from evaporation than from exhaustion. With saran wrap/other plastic lid, it will definitely prolong the life of the developer to multiple sessions or chemical exhaustion, whichever comes first. I used to use it all the time when I was silver printing, although more often in my Nova vertical slot processor, where, with floating lids, it would last for WEEKS.

faberryman · Jul 30, 2021

I spend the time necessary to accomplish the goal, whether that be one print or many, but always stop when I become tired. I start with fresh chemicals every session rather than try to save or replenish them. For lith printing, I may need to mix fresh chemicals several times during a session.

Alan Barton · Jul 30, 2021

I have used A130 the next day without problems. If I work on "final" prints (from prior work, fine-tuning, they will be the final version to be toned, mounted etc) then I only do 2-3 in one session. Finishing up the session with a few other negatives that are a "work-in-progress" or first time proofs. I lose focus on anything after about 4-5 hours - so no point in pushing past!

NB23 · Jul 30, 2021

I’ve been reusing my developer for a year. I just add what’s missing from the previous session, which is about 300-500ml to top off my 2 Liters of working solution.

Even fixer is good for 20 8x10 prints per lirer or 80 rc prints Per liter.

In your case, you can reuse the chemicals for the whole month.

MurrayMinchin · Jul 30, 2021

This is what I came up with: https://www.photrio.com/forum/resources/12-15-developer.123/

It's been a few years since I was in the darkroom, but it worked like a charm. I could leave a print one day, then immediately pick up from where I left off days later with no test strips needed. It would account for developer usage and temperature shifts...the light source had a compensating metronome so had consistent exposures.

This frees you up from having to get a fine print in one session.

Also used it for developing 4x5 HP5's and it was very nice with negatives as well. My notes on film development are buried somewhere in the new darkroom that's being built, but with a little experimentation you'd be able to figure it out.

I kept it in boxes you used to be able to get for cheap wine that had mylar bags with removable/replaceable spigots.

Vaughn · Jul 30, 2021

How about storing used chemicals in bottles until the next printing session? That way one is not exposing the chemicals to so much oxygen (even covered).

MattKing · Jul 30, 2021

Vaughn said:
How about storing used chemicals in bottles until the next printing session? That way one is not exposing the chemicals to so much oxygen (even covered).

This is what I do - and I make a point of storing the developer first, before the rest of my cleanup session.
If you combine this with topping up replenishment and factorial development, you may find that all your concerns are met.

radiant · Jul 30, 2021

Vaughn said:
How about storing used chemicals in bottles until the next printing session? That way one is not exposing the chemicals to so much oxygen (even covered).

Exactly.

I store my chemicals in glass jars, easy to pour. Ilford paper developer lasts 2 months that way.

Rudeofus · Aug 1, 2021

momus said:
Sounds like D-72 will work for me.

The most important aspect is, that you do not dilute the developer. Therefore the stock solution will last much longer that the frequently recommended 1+1 or 1+2 working solutions. D-72 stock will work just fine as print developer, and a concentrated solution will not dissolve much Oxygen and therefore last much, much longer.

Better prints from shorter print sessions?

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