Current options in lith developers: Moersch, Rollei, and Fotospeed LD20

Tom Kershaw · Jul 3, 2010

Yesterday and today I've got back to making lith prints for the first time in many months; thankfully my sealed 500ml pack of Fotospeed LD20 (dated Nov 2010) worked without issue. However, as I intend to make 12x16" and 16x20" lith prints, that 500ml pack will not last long. As far as I can see the current options in commercially prepared lith developers are:

- Fotospeed LD20 (standard A and B concentrate type kit, also available in 5lt A and 5 lt B packaging)

- Rollei Vintage Creative Lith (also an A+B kit but 10 GBP more expensive than the Fotospeed product.

- Moersch Easylith

- Moersch SE5 master kit

As far as kit comparisons go, I understand the SE5 product uses the standard A + B format but then one adjusts the developer function via the use of additives C, D (included), E and F (extra), either used solo with the developer or in conjunction with "Old Brown".

Has anyone here made comparisons or have experience with the above kits?

Tom

Dan Henderson · Jul 3, 2010

I used LD20 and was quite happy. I tried some Rollei and was pleased with the first batch, since it produced prints very close to Fotospeed. The next batch of Rollei I bought did not behave well. I could not get the same color that I did from the Fotospeed or first batch of Rollei. Since Fotospeed was on its hiatus and unavailable I tried Moersch. Very similar results to Fotospeed/early Rollei, but more expensive. When I need to buy again I will probably go with Fotospeed for economy.

Note: I did buy the Moersch master kit but have not used the additives. Maybe just buying the A and B bottles would be comparable in price to Fotospeed. I don't know, I have not checked.

ath · Jul 4, 2010

I have not used them but in my eyes with the moersch chemicals you have the advantage to see a variaty of samples pictures at http://www.moersch-photochemie.de/content/galerie/lang:en. He is very helpful when approached with questions (he is a member here as well) and provides a lot of information (see e.g. here.

I rarely do lith and am still on my first set of Maco lith; when it's empty I will buy Moersch's lith.

swittmann · Jul 4, 2010

Tom, I can only comment on Moersch Easy Lith so far, as I have not tried any of the others. I like it very much and it gives me a large variety of possiblities - different solutions, different exposure times, different papers... there is a lot to "play". Along with the two bottles comes a comprehensive instruction text, and if you wish to know even more, you can have a look at the Moersch website, as stated above. I have started with lith printing this year, so I am still a beginner, however, with Easy Lith, I have enough to "play with" for the next months to come, I think...
I always buy the two small bottles, and the price is good.

Tom Kershaw · Jul 4, 2010

Swittmann,

I went and had a look at the Moersch website, and indeed he does provide some good examples for the products. However, I'm unclear as to whether the SE5 master kit provides anything extra over Fotospeed + home brewed additives, although I see claims are made with regard to longevity or stability of the lith developer compared to the more standard solutions.

Tom

Pete H · Jul 4, 2010

Tom, I use the SE 5 kit but I don't have experience with the others, so I can't help with a direct comparison. You can keep the SE 5 going for a long time by judicious use of the additives with a bit of replenishment, but what I like is that you can play with them to get quite different effects from the same paper, from smooth and creamy to very grainy and lithy, just by changing the amounts and the dilution. The extra ingredients give you more control, although also more to experiment with and a consequent chance of getting it wrong. Presumably you could do the same with home brewed additives in the other developers - as far as I understand C and D are just sulphide and bromide additives to give independent control of the levels of each in the developer.

Pete

Tom Kershaw · Jul 4, 2010

Pete H said:
Tom, I use the SE 5 kit but I don't have experience with the others, so I can't help with a direct comparison. You can keep the SE 5 going for a long time by judicious use of the additives with a bit of replenishment, but what I like is that you can play with them to get quite different effects from the same paper, from smooth and creamy to very grainy and lithy, just by changing the amounts and the dilution. The extra ingredients give you more control, although also more to experiment with and a consequent chance of getting it wrong. Presumably you could do the same with home brewed additives in the other developers - as far as I understand C and D are just sulphide and bromide additives to give independent control of the levels of each in the developer.

Pete

There is also a Ammonium Carbonate solution (Omega additive) which is supposed to increase colour intensity.

Tom

traveller · Jul 4, 2010

I use the Moersch Easylith and the SE 5-kit. And on some occasion I use the Lith Omege to increase the colour intensity.

Easy to use and he is indeed very helpful

John

Mark Fisher · Jul 4, 2010

I've used Rollei, Moersch SE5, Champion and Arista liquid. I found Rollei and Moersch (without additives) to be similar. Champion and Arista are also similar and, unfortunately, contain formaldahyde. I like them for Slavich paper, but have pretty much stuck to Rollei otherwise. Both Rollei and Moersch are formalhyde-free as far as I know. I've heard that Fotospeed and Rollei are the same, but I have no direct experience to confirm that.

dancqu · Jul 4, 2010

The Easy Home Brew Alternative

Three chemicals and you've a lith developer. Hydroquinone,
sodium sulfite, and sodium carbonate in the correct proportions
are all that is needed. You've the chemicals on hand? If interested
I'll post some for starters suggestions. Dan

clayne · Jul 4, 2010

dancqu said:
Three chemicals and you've a lith developer. Hydroquinone,
sodium sulfite, and sodium carbonate in the correct proportions
are all that is needed. You've the chemicals on hand? If interested
I'll post some for starters suggestions. Dan

Dan I think you're missing a few ingredients. Take a look at the ld-20 msds and you'll notice that in addition to lye, there's a bit more than that:

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/pdf/msds/fotospeed/LD20_Lith_Deveveloper.pdf

Part B is halfway down.

dancqu · Jul 4, 2010

Maybe One

clayne said:
Dan I think you're missing a few ingredients.

Potassium bromide may or may not be needed although
I don't recall using it while doing some lith printing
several years ago. Dan

clayne · Jul 4, 2010

dancqu said:
Potassium bromide may or may not be needed although
I don't recall using it while doing some lith printing
several years ago. Dan

Okay, and what about potassium hydroxide or the glycol?

The chemicals you stated ("Hydroquinone, sodium sulfite, and sodium carbonate") sound perfectly find for something like Dektol (in fact that pretty much is Dektol that you described) but as we all know, Dektol isn't even close to a lith developer.

Granted, it's all about proportion of chemicals to manipulate developer activity, but I think there's a bit more than that needed. On the flip-side, it appears Easylith is mostly HQ, glycol, and potassium carbonate.

Rich Ullsmith · Jul 5, 2010

So totally depends on the paper (er, emulsion). Starting over again, with a giant stash of good lithable paper, I would most definitely mix my own developers.

And it is basically (or, elementary, depending on your take) what danq said. This stuff is not rocket surgery. Stoicheometry yes, rocket surgery no.

dancqu · Jul 5, 2010

The Secret

clayne said:
Okay, and what about potassium hydroxide or the glycol?

The chemicals you stated ("Hydroquinone, sodium sulfite, and
sodium carbonate") sound perfectly find for something like Dektol
(in fact that pretty much is Dektol that you described) but as we all
know, Dektol isn't even close to a lith developer.

Granted, it's all about proportion of chemicals to manipulate
developer activity, but I think there's a bit more than that
needed. On the flip-side, it appears Easylith is mostly
HQ, glycol, and potassium carbonate.

The very high ph of a hydroxide is not needed. The
glycol? The entire News Paper industry for generations
existed as we know it because of lith developers. Many
variations exist catering to many emulsions, work
conditions, keeping qualities etc.

The secret is the extremely low level of sulfite needed.
Ordinarily hydroquinone is, after a manor, rejuvenated
so acts in it's usual way. As sulfite levels drop below
2% hydroquinone reduces the halides of silver
infectiously.

To learn more, via Google search for lith formulas.
Once there read "What Lith Developers Do". Dan

Tom Kershaw · Jul 5, 2010

Dan,

Have you used any of the commercial formulas? I can mix my own solutions but a "ready in the bottle" product is a convenience.

Tom

dancqu · Jul 6, 2010

Committed to Home Brew

Tom Kershaw said:
Dan, Have you used any of the commercial formulas?
I can mix my own solutions but a "ready in the bottle"
product is a convenience. Tom

No I've not used any commercial products. Any product
off the shelf is based upon hydroquinone's infectious
development in a very low sulfite environment.

I'll likely get back to compounding my own although for
the near future my time available for darkroom work
is very limited. I'd like to explore the developer as
a global contrast control. Have you done any
exploring along those lines? Perhaps lith
then bleach then redevelop? Or even
re-lith. Dan

Tom Kershaw · Jul 6, 2010

dancqu said:
No I've not used any commercial products. Any product
off the shelf is based upon hydroquinone's infectious
development in a very low sulfite environment.

I'll likely get back to compounding my own although for
the near future my time available for darkroom work
is very limited. I'd like to explore the developer as
a global contrast control. Have you done any
exploring along those lines? Perhaps lith
then bleach then redevelop? Or even
re-lith. Dan

Not as yet. Processing ILFORD MGWT in a standard PQ developer, bleaching, and then redeveloping in a lith developer is planned, as suggested by Tim Rudman.

Tom

Schlapp · Nov 28, 2012

Does anyone know the keeping properties if Rollewi-Creative Lith - unmixed please? I'm thinking of buying 5l of the stuff but don't want it to go off!
thanks

ath · Nov 28, 2012

I dont know about this specific developer but once W. Moersch stated that lith developers should keep nearly indefinite. I think he was observing no measurable change after several years of storage with his developer.
I would store the 5l in several glass bottles though.

Schlapp · Nov 28, 2012

Many thanks

Bob Carnie · Nov 28, 2012

Mark where do you find the Champion chemistry??

Mark Fisher said:
I've used Rollei, Moersch SE5, Champion and Arista liquid. I found Rollei and Moersch (without additives) to be similar. Champion and Arista are also similar and, unfortunately, contain formaldahyde. I like them for Slavich paper, but have pretty much stuck to Rollei otherwise. Both Rollei and Moersch are formalhyde-free as far as I know. I've heard that Fotospeed and Rollei are the same, but I have no direct experience to confirm that.

Bob Carnie · Nov 28, 2012

Old thread, my heart started racing thinking I could find some good old champion

Bob Carnie said:
Mark where do you find the Champion chemistry??

An Le-qun · Nov 30, 2012

Don't neglect Ultrafine--two gallons of concentrate that keeps...well, I'm on my third order, and the low cost has encouraged me to do lith for about 95% of my printing. I decant the gallon A & B into used wine bottles, and I've never had it even threaten to go off.

http://www.ultrafineonline.com/

Click the "Graphic Arts" tab.

The results are very close to what I got with Fotospeed.

Current options in lith developers: Moersch, Rollei, and Fotospeed LD20

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency