Developers other than Dektol for RC papers

BetterSense · Oct 27, 2010

I've been using Dektol (or the previously-available Kentmere clone available through Freestyle until recently) since I've been photographing. I only use RC paper (Arista EDU.Ultra mainly). For RC paper in particular, is does developer make any difference? Are there any cheaper developers than Dektol? I can't think of anything I'm unhappy about with Dektol, but I've never tried anything else.

Photo Engineer · Oct 27, 2010

I hate to do this, but, well..... Try Liquidol from the Formulary.

PE

23mjm · Oct 27, 2010

Personally I have found that RC papers are not as developer sensitive as fiber papers. With RC I have gotten consistent results form many different developers. Mostly I get whats cheap in a liquid developer or Ilford MG developer--it seams to have great shelf life.

bdial · Oct 27, 2010

I like Liquidol, it works well, is convenient, and lasts and lasts and lasts.

There is also forumulary 130. However, aside from Ilford Cold Tone (RIP), I've not found any I like better than Liquidol

Photo Engineer · Oct 27, 2010

Thanks for the comment!

PE

MattKing · Oct 28, 2010

I like liquid chemistry. I prefer buying chemistry personally from a store.

If I were ordering chemistry over the internet, I'd order Liquidol, because I've heard good things about the "author".

I'm still able to get Kodak's Polymax-T from Glazer's in Seattle, but they don't stock Liquidol.

I like Polymax-T (marketed as Liquid Dektol in some parts of the world) so that is what I'm buying and using.

Now, if I could buy Liquidol personally from a store ....

Rick A · Oct 28, 2010

You ought to give Edwal LPD a try. The stuff outlasts Dektol and gives consistantly good results with a variety of RC papers.

BetterSense · Oct 28, 2010

I never actually use fresh Dektol, because I found the tone of EDU.Ultra RC paper goes a tad unpleasant in fresh developer, but neutral-to-warms up in old, brown Dektol. So now whenever I start a printing session I mix up about 150mL of working solution and dump it in the tray with my old, brown Dektol. At the end of the session I bottle up whatever fits in my bottle and dump whatever's left in the tray. This way I always have brown Dektol but I never have to mix up fresh. I guess I'll give Liquidol a try.

Mike Wilde · Oct 28, 2010

I home mix agfa 100, which is close to a clone of the published home mix dektol/d-72 formula. I use washing soda from the grocery store laundry aisle as my source of alkali, but it does give the prints a bit of a perfumed scent, if you smell them carefully once dried. I find it keeps well for 5-6 months or more once mixed, and is vialble 1:2 for a few days if it is poured into a near full glass jug and capped up overnight.

I don't see a whole lot of tone varaition with RC from deevloper, so I don't get too fancy with them. FB is another story however...

nworth · Oct 28, 2010

What effect the developer has is mostly dependent on the emulsion, whether the paper is FB or RC. It is often worth trying a few for any given paper to see which you like best. Among the prepared developers, I agree that Liquidol is an excellent cold tone developer (better than any other I know of currently). If you mix your own, you have a large number of choices. My standard is Defender 54-D, but there are lots of others that other people favor. It depends a lot on your taste and your working methods. Ansco 103 and Ansco 130 are favored by many. Do not ignore Dektol and D-72, however. They are really excellent developers.

Developers other than Dektol for RC papers

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