Developer incorporated into Kentmere paper-why?

[Mahler_one]

While waiting for some FB prints to dry I looked about to see what was new in the world of photographic papers. I noted that Kentmere FB has developer incorporated into the emulsion. I wonder if anyone knowledgeable about the chemistry of enlarging papers might tell me why developing agents are indeed incorporated into any photographic paper, and if the presence of such developing agents is a "non- event". Does the incorporated developer have some "relevance" with reference to the character of the Kentmere paper in question? Why does Kentmere paper have developing agents in the emulsion, and Ilford does not? What is gained by incorporating developing agents into any printing paper? I am somewhat mystified...

 

[nyoung]

AFAIK, all the Kodak RC (resin coated papers) back into the 1970s were/are developer incorporated. The dektol or whatever you use for print developer actually functions as an activator. Why? Speed and consistency in newspaper and other high volume darkrooms. The images come up fast and the paper develops to a predetermined point every time - taking time out of the print developing equation. Also, the developer incorporated RC papers had much shorter and less critical fix and wash times.
I've been told - but never tried it - that the Kodak RC products will develop in the activator used in stabilization processors.
The down side - to my eye and experience - is that the papers generally have a narrower tonal range than the more traditional types.

 

[fotch]

Don't they spoil or age faster also? You have to use before the expiration date?

 

[MattKing]

PE has posted a number of times on this issue.

There are two purposes for incorporating developer.

The first, and most obvious, is to permit rapid development by simple activation. As I understand it, there are no longer any papers on the market that are made this way.

The other purpose, and one that involves minute amounts of developer, which are not enough to develop a full image, is that the added chemistry permits fine tuning of factors like contrast and image colour.

Please correct me if I'm wrong PE

 

[Stan160]

Kentmere FB is certainly the fastest enlarging paper I've used by a wide margin. Maybe this is the intention of the incorporated developer.

Ian

 

[palec]

Is it possible that the in-paper developer contaminates the regular developer?
I've seen my developer AM6006 being exhausted too fast when developing Kentmere Fineprint VC finegrain.

 

[Ian Grant]

Developer exhausts far faster with Fibre based developers it's quite normal.

early RC papes were developer incorporated purely for speed of processing and also so some could be used in activator stabiliser processors.

Ian

 

[Mahler_one]

Kentmere FB is certainly the fastest enlarging paper I've used by a wide margin. Maybe this is the intention of the incorporated developer.

Ian

One of the reasons that I asked my question had to do with another thread here on which I asked who actually manufactured the Adorama "house brand" paper. One poster mentioned that he thought that Harman made the paper which was, indeed, Kentmere paper. Researching the Kentmere paper during the time I was waiting for the FB prints to dry revealed the information about the incorporated developer. I had in fact noted that the Adorama paper was much faster than Ilford MG FB paper, and also noted that the image appeared with lightening speed in the developer and appeared to be completed within some seconds less than a minute. One might now have some grounds for concluding that the Adorama paper is indeed Kentmere paper which has been rebranded. Of course, does that fact that a paper actually has developer incorporated into the emulsion make such paper "inferior" or "superior"-or has no affect just as long as one is aware that the exposure and developing parameters are different and must be accounted for?

I much appreciate the time that all have taken to provide the interesting and illuminating responses.

Ed