Can Dektol be used as D-19 developer?

8ball55 · Apr 14, 2017

Hello everyone,

I am trying to look up times to develop various films such as Eastman Kodalith type 3 and Tri-X super 8 film, but most of the times are for D-19 developer. I've read somewhere that Dektol used to be used as an old method of developing film in someways and that Dektol is very similar to D-19. I could be dead wrong. From what I've seen D-19 seems to be long gone. So I was wondering if Dektol could be used as D-19?

Thanks

removed account4 · Apr 14, 2017

hello 8ball55

im not sure if you have ever mixed developer or photochemistry from scratch
if you are interested, you can mix your own d-19
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

here's the recipe for d72 ( pretty much dektol from scratch )
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

sorry i answer your question directly, i've never used d-19

8ball55 · Apr 14, 2017

jnanian said:
hello 8ball55

im not sure if you have ever mixed developer or photochemistry from scratch
if you are interested, you can mix your own d-19
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

here's the recipe for d72 ( pretty much dektol from scratch )
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

sorry i answer your question directly, i've never used d-19

Hey jnanian,

I just checked out the formulas, but it seems that these chemicals are hard to get. I've read somewhere you can make d-19 out of household chemicals.

removed account4 · Apr 14, 2017

hi 8ball55
not sure about making D19 out of household stuff
i know i don't have metol, or hydroquinone lying around
except in my darkroom ...
if you decide you want to buy the chemicals and
make it yourself, you can get all the chemicals you need at
http://www.artcraftchemicals.com/products/
or
http://stores.photoformulary.com

from grams to lbs ..
the only downside is you have to wait for them to arrive in the mail !

8ball55 · Apr 14, 2017

Right thanks jnanian!

Also I also heard D-11 is one of the same line of higher contrast developers with D-19. They have D-11 available on ebay. Considering they are on the similar line of high contrast film developers, could that also be used with the same developing times as D-19?

Photo Engineer · Apr 14, 2017

D-11 is much higher in contrast than D-19.

You might try Dektol at 1:3 for 3 minutes or Dektol 1:7 for 7 minutes. I used this in the AF and David Vestal did much the same. The results will be contrasty and grainy.

PE

8ball55 · Apr 14, 2017

Photo Engineer said:
D-11 is much higher in contrast than D-19.

You might try Dektol at 1:3 for 3 minutes or Dektol 1:7 for 7 minutes. I used this in the AF and David Vestal did much the same. The results will be contrasty and grainy.

PE

Are those times for the Kodalith type 3 or Tri-x super 8?

GregW · Apr 14, 2017

A "d-19 substitute" is sold by Photographer's Formulary. Just add water.
http://stores.photoformulary.com/formulary-substitute-d-19/

Petraio Prime · Apr 14, 2017

D-19, D-11, D-8 were high-contrast developers.

Photo Engineer · Apr 14, 2017

8ball55 said:
Are those times for the Kodalith type 3 or Tri-x super 8?

David suggested the same time for all films. It was impossible to say what it is for all of them actually, but it is so active that there may be no problem. With any unknown situation though, you must test it first with a trial run.

PE

Tom Taylor · Apr 15, 2017

Photo Engineer said:
D-11 is much higher in contrast than D-19.
PE

It's the reverse in the Darkroom Cookbook, 3d Edition, where D-19 is used as a high contrast developer and D-11 as a normal contrast developer for reversal printing.

Thomas

removed account4 · Apr 15, 2017

i usee dektol 1:7 and 1:5 for normal processing isn't high contrast,
3 mins is an awfully short swim,
thats what i was told newspaper photographers would stand develop
in dektol at full strength ( 3mins ) ///

pdelrosario · Apr 15, 2017

I use Dektol to reverse Tri-X 7266 and ORWO UN 54 Dead Link Removed

guangong · Apr 15, 2017

I use D-19 for developing Tri-x 16mm and Super-8. You can purchase all the chemicals you need from Photographers Formulary. Since you must make bleach (and fogging agent if yo don't reexpose), there is really no reason not to mix your own developer as well. In the not so distant past when D-19 was available I bought it for convenience...and usually wasted a lot because it was only packaged in one gallon bags. Now I mix only what I need. I use a Lomo tank for Super 8 and a Morris reel to reel for 16mm.

Photo Engineer · Apr 15, 2017

jnanian said:
i usee dektol 1:7 and 1:5 for normal processing isn't high contrast,
3 mins is an awfully short swim,
thats what i was told newspaper photographers would stand develop
in dektol at full strength ( 3mins ) ///

That is why I said "test".

PE

Photo Engineer · Apr 15, 2017

Tom Taylor said:
It's the reverse in the Darkroom Cookbook, 3d Edition, where D-19 is used as a high contrast developer and D-11 as a normal contrast developer for reversal printing.

Thomas

Thanks. I'll have to check that out. I was taught and always followed the maxim, D8, D11, D19, D76, DK50 in order of decreasing contrast.

PE

Tom Taylor · Apr 16, 2017

Photo Engineer said:
Thanks. I'll have to check that out. I was taught and always followed the maxim, D8, D11, D19, D76, DK50 in order of decreasing contrast.

PE

After thinking about it, the maxim may explain why I found it necessary to change the dilution of D-11 from 1:3 in the Cookbook to 3:1 in practice. According to the Cookbook, D-19 (+ Thiocynate) isn't diluted.

Thomas

GregW · Apr 16, 2017

I've been using D-19 1:1 for sheet film, and find times around 6-8 works fine and the contrast is not too intense. 100 to 400 asa films. I'm using expired Kodak pouch stuff, I found a small cache of it.

studiocarter · Apr 6, 2018

pdelrosario said:
I use Dektol to reverse Tri-X 7266 and ORWO UN 54 Dead Link Removed

No times are given, temperature, agitation are important

vdonovan · Apr 6, 2018

8ball55 said:
Hello everyone,

I am trying to look up times to develop various films such as Eastman Kodalith type 3 and Tri-X super 8 film, but most of the times are for D-19 developer. I've read somewhere that Dektol used to be used as an old method of developing film in someways and that Dektol is very similar to D-19. I could be dead wrong. From what I've seen D-19 seems to be long gone. So I was wondering if Dektol could be used as D-19?

Thanks

I think many people use Dektol as first and second developer when processing Tr-X Super 8. I use it full strength of 8 minutes at 68 degrees as the first developer and 5 minutes as the second developer. Works great!

studiocarter · Apr 7, 2018

16mm was developed in Dektol 1:3 at 76 degrees f, 8 min, and this is what it looks like, contrasty with smooth grain, pulled process a little as the exposure was a stop open too much. Second developer was the same as the first.

darkroommike · Apr 7, 2018

For reversal processing choice of second developer isn't very critical since it goes to completion. You just have to leave the film in there long enough for the magic to happen.

voceumana · Apr 7, 2018

Photographer's Formulary sells a kit for D-19: http://stores.photoformulary.com/formulary-substitute-d-19/

studiocarter · Apr 8, 2018

D-95 works in 4 min. as a second developer and may be used over and over again at 68 degrees. I hold up black leader to a light bulb to see how dense it becomes. It varies. Longer time makes it blacker.

Can Dektol be used as D-19 developer?

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