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DiXactol and zone system - two bath or single?

Usagi

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Apr 17, 2007
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Turku, Finla
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Hi,
I am fallen love with DiXactol Ultra and now I am planning to calibrate Ilford Delta 100 for it.
The thing I am wondering is that is it better to use DiXactol as single bath developer?
I am interested about two bath because it allows controlling of the negative contrast by using second bath in different strenghts without changing developing time.
 

Gerald C Koch

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Jul 12, 2010
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With a two bath developer you have no control over zone placement. The degree of development is essentially built in. You can attempt to vary the times in Bath A or in Bath B but the results aren't really satisfactory. Same for changing the composition of Bath B. The Zone System really needs a conventional developer like D-76. Read Ansel Adams book The Print for more information.