DiXactol

sanking · Jan 27, 2004

That bring up a idea/question. If you were to add Glycin to Pyrocat-HD,
would you have the same developer? Sandy?
Just curious. :confused:[/quote]

Since Barry Thornton's developers were proprietary formulas it is impossible to know exactly what they contained. However, based on Mr. Thornton's description in Photo Techniques of the evolution of his developers, and the recommended working dilutions, it appears to me that his latest formlas were very similar to Pyrocat-HD.

I have in fact experimented with glycin in the Pyrocat-HD formula. Glycin is super-additive in the formula and if added at the rate of about 2 parts of glycin to 5 parts of pyrocatechin the developer is more energetic. However, I did not find any advantage to the addition of glyicin to the Pyrocat_HD formula in terms of either sharpness, grain size or apparent sharpness. If anything I had the impression that the glycin reduced apparent sharpness slightly, but this observation was not based on extensive testing and I could be mistaken.

Sandy

per volquartz · Jan 27, 2004

About a year ago I tested Dixactol vesus Pyro Rollo, both with Efke 25, 35mm film, both of the same subject matter = glass.

There was no contest! The Dixactol negs were grainy; the Pyro negs looked like they were etched in terms of sharpness; when printed to the same size the Pyro negs were far superior, no grain in the highlights, extremely sharp and with an incredible scale.

I shot another scene thereafter on Efke 25, processed the film in Pyro Rollo and made an 8X10 print. At the same time I shot a 5X7 neg on Bergger 200, processed the film in Pyro Rollo and made an 8X10 print. To the untrained eye there was no difference... I have never touched Dixactol again!

garryl · Jan 27, 2004

About a year ago I tested Dixactol vesus Pyro Rollo, both with Efke 25, 35mm film, both of the same subject matter = glass.

well your motives in doing those tests were transparent. :lol:

Seriously- I'm thinkng Pyro Rollo is for Jobo like tanks. What would us "shake it ourselves" types use (35MM)?

BTW= Thanks Sandy for answering my question. The only reason I shy away from Pycat=HD is that it seems a LF
developer. I trying to max. out 35MM.

lee · Jan 27, 2004

Garryl,
have you concidered plain old PMK. I have used it for several years as both a roll film developer and large format developer. I don't make extream enlargements in any format but the grain it sharp.

35 mm ain't ever gonna look like large format.

lee\c

garryl · Jan 28, 2004

35 mm ain't ever gonna look like large format.

NO it's not. But trying to handhold a 4x5 at a 1/60 with a telephoto lens is no fun neither!

Thanks for the advice.

Leon · Jan 28, 2004

I have run out of Exactol now , and am looking for an alternative as the Thornton shop is still closed for now. Pyrocat-HD sounds like the best bet, but, after a brief websearch, i cant find anywhere that sells it in the UK - can anyone help?

Dave Miller · Jan 28, 2004

Leon, Check out the Speedibrews web site.http://www.speedibrews.free-online.co.uk/photochems.htm
They do a pyro developer, but possibly only through Silverprint. Jim Cottrill is the chap to speak to at Speedibrew.

roy · Jan 28, 2004

Leon said:
. Pyrocat-HD sounds like the best bet, i cant find anywhere that sells it in the UK - can anyone help?

Photographers Formulary in America are very prompt.

Leon · Jan 28, 2004

oh - thanks Roy - i couldnt work out if they sold internationally from their website - I'll definately get in touch with them then. Ta!

sanking · Jan 28, 2004

Leon said:
oh - thanks Roy - i couldnt work out if they sold internationally from their website - I'll definately get in touch with them then. Ta!

Also, consider Artcraft Chemicals. I am certain that Mike will make you up a kit from the forumla and a couple of persons have reported in the past fast service to the UK from Artcraft.

Sandy

baronfoxx · Feb 7, 2004

Due to a web mail fault I have not been able to post replys for several weeks, so this is partly a test.
I have used Dixactol to process 35mm film since the developer first came onto the UK market usingDelta 100, Delta400 (new version) and FP4 all with excellent resuls. ie grain free and sharp prints at 20" x 16" on glossy FB papers.
late in 2003 I changed to Dixacto Ultra with the partial stand method and got even better results, i have now started using ACROS 100 and the results are quite startlingly sharp.

in Audio Hi-Fi there is a saying of "rubbish in rubbish out" so make sure that what the camera puts onto the negative is good enough for the developer to work its magic on.

roy · Feb 8, 2004

baronfoxx said:
late in 2003 I changed to Dixacto Ultra..... i have now started using ACROS 100 and the results are quite startlingly sharp.

Interesting. I was waiting to see what the results of a member using this combination were like as BT warned me not to use it due to possible emulsion damage.

baronfoxx · Feb 8, 2004

re Roy
I do not know why BT gave the advise re Acros, I do recall him saying to use alkaline stop and fix baths with Dixactol Ultra.
I use a water stop bath and ARCHIVIX alkaline fixer , I also use a Jessops tank wich is kept for Dixactol Ultra only in the inerest of cleanliness and prevention of cross contamination.

Adrian Twiss · Feb 8, 2004

I seem to remember something from Barry's web site about finding the emulsion of Fuji Neopan 100SS being easily damaged in Dixactol but if I remember correctly he also said that this should not present problems if care was taken during processing. I don't know the history of Acros, does it share similarities with Neopan 100SS

Tom Stanworth · Feb 29, 2004

I have dev'd 20 sheets of 5x4 acros quickload in Dixactol in combitanks and have had nothing but perfectly dust and damage free sharp grain free negs. Then again, the negs are not really touched by anything.

Tom

garryl · Mar 1, 2004

Did you guys lay in a big stash, or do you have a secret supplier?
The store is still closed and the last update was Jan 4. So it may all be academic if they don't start selling it again soon.

jobel60 · Mar 3, 2004

Just to keep everyone up to date; Barry Thornton died a couple of months ago. He might have gone digi and been an absolute technical puritan but he was a hell of a good photographer. The world of photography has lost a good inspiriation.

moose10101 · Mar 4, 2004

Posted yesterday at www.barrythornton.com

Posted 3rd March 2004
The shop will be open by Easter.

If you are on the mailing list and think I have not informed you - don't worry - I will be mailing with the actual date when I have it.

I can now confirm that not every item will be present. At this time I do not know what will be in and what will be out. Suffice to say though, as soon as I know, you will too.

Andy (AWH Imaging)

garryl · Apr 16, 2004

Posted 3rd March 2004
The shop will be open by Easter.

Well It's passed Easter?

skahde · Apr 18, 2004

Those of located in old europe may be interested to here that there is a new staining/tanning developer on the market, Moersch Tanol.
Developing agents used are Hydrochinon, Pyrocatechin and Dimezone S.

Examples of the results can be viewed at: http://www.moersch-photochemie.de/index_e.php

If you want to get an impressions of the work Wolfgang Moersch is doing as a printer have a look at the "fine-print" section where he presents some of the work he has been doing for his clients.

Stefan

Ed Sukach · Apr 18, 2004

skahde said:
Examples of the results can be viewed at: http://www.moersch-photochemie.de/index_e.php
If you want to get an impressions of the work Wolfgang Moersch is doing as a printer have a look at the "fine-print" section where he presents some of the work he has been doing for his clients.

I've bookmarked the site. I hope it will be in English soon. The work in the "Gallerie" is very good!!!

roy · Apr 18, 2004

[quote="skahde"
If you want to get an impressions of the work Wolfgang Moersch is doing as a printer have a look at the "fine-print" section where he presents some of the work he has been doing for his clients.
Stefan[/quote]

This is a favourite site of mine. I find many of the images superb. Users in the UK can get some of the chemicals from Retro Photographic (a member of this list).

DiXactol

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