D-76 vs 1:1

[FilmNoir]

Hi all,

I'm confused about something. Is stock solution what I prepare from the envelope? For one gallon I used 3.8 liters of water and the contents of the envelope to make a gallon. Is that stock solution? If so, then 1:1 would be using one part of that stock solution and one part water then, correct? Sorry, I just want to be sure not to screw up my rolls, as there is a 3.5 minute development time between stock and 1:1 and I usually use Adonal. Thanks in advance!

 

[mshchem]

Close enough for Dektol. In theory you are to start with 3-3.5 qts of water, dissolve the chemicals then "dilute to volume" which in this case is 1 gallon. Depending on the chemical if you start with a gallon of water the final product could be more or less than a gallon. What you have is fine. A dramatic example is the famous mixing of pure alcohol with water. If you mix 5 parts (by volume) of alcohol with 5 parts of water you don't get 10, more like 9 or 9.5.

You are good to go!

 

[Kilgallb]

3.8 litres is one American gallon. The instructions are clear, 3.2 litres of water, mix then add water to make 3.8 litres.

 

[Bill Burk]

And in case it isn't yet perfectly clear, you end up with a gallon of stock solution.

Then you mix it with water to develop film at 1:1 you would ultimately have two gallons of working-strength developer.

But you probably make it up a tank at a time.

 

[Pat Erson]

Then you mix it with water to develop film at 1+1 you would ultimately have two gallons of working-strength developer.

But you won't do this, will you! If you decide to use your D-76 at 1+1 you mix it with water just before you process your films.

 

[FilmNoir]

Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate it. Now at least it is clear to me.

I think I'll go 1:1, and definitely only mix it right before I develop my film.

 

[jeffreyg]

You do have it correct. An easy way to mix is to take a clean plastic milk or such one gallon bottle, measure out a gallon of water and mark the level with a marking pen. Keep the empty bottle to mix the developer in. When I mix developer to make a stock solution I do it in such a bottle and then transfer the stock solution to smaller light-proof bottles filled to the top to keep exposure to air at a bare minimum. Label and date on a piece of masking tape.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[mklw1954]

And then use the 1:1 solution only once, discarding it after use. The stock solution can be reused (4 rolls per liter).

 

[jim appleyard]

Diluting 1+1 is preferred by many: you toss after your done so you always know how many rolls have been run thru it. Grain increases a little, but gradation improves.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hi all,

I'm confused about something. Is stock solution what I prepare from the envelope? For one gallon I used 3.8 liters of water and the contents of the envelope to make a gallon. Is that stock solution? If so, then 1:1 would be using one part of that stock solution and one part water then, correct? Sorry, I just want to be sure not to screw up my rolls, as there is a 3.5 minute development time between stock and 1:1 and I usually use Adonal. Thanks in advance!

you've got it!

 

[darkroommike]

• You use quite warm water to mix the stock solution and then let it cool overnight.
• I always divide my stock solution into four smaller bottles. (I use brown glass, but I prefer brown glass and have brown glass.)
• Storage life for a FULL bottle of D-76 is six months (or longer but Kodak says six months).
• Storage life for a partially full bottle is two months.
• I mark the dates I mix stock solutions on tape on the bottle and make another date notation when I open one of the bottles so I know when it's time to discard that bottle if I'm not processing a lot of film at home. (Note I have another darkroom in my classroom so I test a lot of different developers at school.
• I dilute the already mixed stock solution with processing temperature water to make a working solution.
• Times will be longer than when using the stock D-76 but accutance will be better, blah, blah, etc.
• I use it once, discard the used developer and continue with my processing cycle.
• Capacity of a gallon of D-76 used 1+1 is lower but consistency is higher so I like the trade off.
• No standard developer is expensive enough that you should consider replenishing unless there is another compelling reason.

For folks doing a very low volume of film processing use your developer one shot only.

 

[Bill Burk]

darkroommike has good advice.

I always make up four bottles. Three, I fill all the way to the top, so there's no air under the cap.

The fourth quart will be short, I just make a point of using that bottle first.