Dokumol/Eukobrom alternatives?

bernard_L · Apr 24, 2025

ADOX Fotoimpex said:
Dokumol was a contrast enhancing developer which manages to increase the contrast of the paper by up to one grade. This was pretty unique

I consider this to be either marketing hype or Yet Another Internet Myth. I spent my money and time (back in 2014) to find out, following an expert recommendation on this platform. Tests with Fomabrom Variant 111. Dektol 1+2 versus Dokumol 1+6. The only difference was that development was faster in dokumol, at the stated dilution (but, to completion in both cases).

Sure, I should have watched closely the language "up to one grade", so I'm a consenting victim. Anyway, the contrast increase is zero. Zilch.

miha · Apr 24, 2025

@bernard_L maybe because Dektol is a high-contrast developer to begin with?

bernard_L · Apr 24, 2025

miha said:
@bernard_L maybe because Dektol is a high-contrast developer to begin with?

I had not thought of THAT one.

Reginald S · Apr 24, 2025

Rollei RHC (where HC states high contrast) may be worth a try.
I remember substituting Dokumol with RHC years ago, just for saving money but without great differencies coming to my nonscientic view..

miha · Apr 24, 2025

Reginald S said:
I remember substituting Dokumol with RHC years ago

For film or paper?

koraks · Apr 24, 2025

miha said:
@bernard_L maybe because Dektol is a high-contrast developer to begin with?

Paper is generally developed to completion. As a result, differences between developers will be limited to fairly subtle alterations of toe & shoulder and image tone/hue.

Elmarc · Apr 24, 2025

bernard_L said:
I had not thought of THAT one.

I have achieved an extra grade with graded paper and Dokumol and a grade less with Centrabrom.

Elmarc · Apr 24, 2025

ADOX Fotoimpex said:
Dokumol was a contrast enhancing developer which manages to increase the contrast of the paper by up to one grade. This was pretty unique and will not be possible with the alternatives mentioned. Eukobrom was a standard blue-black working developer which is quite well matched with Neutol NE from our range. MCC developer is a superior developer yielding a better DMax. We are still wondering if we should bring back Dokumol. What are your thoughts?

I entered your 'poll' asking for Dokumol and Centrabrom ;-)

Elmarc · Apr 24, 2025

snusmumriken said:
What I don't like about it is the marginally greenish tone in Ilford's own Multigrade developer - hence I tone it slightly in selenium. Like the OP, I'd love to avoid that step.

I had the same experience with Ilford MG developer. There was a marked difference when I switched to Dokumol.

Reginald S · Apr 24, 2025

miha said:
For film or paper?

I took RHC for paper only.

miha · Apr 25, 2025

Reginald S said:
I took RHC for paper only.

Thanks. I checked their vendor site (macodirect) and it mentions "while stocks last" So not a suitable alternative to Documol either.

Reginald S · Apr 25, 2025

Oha. I have bought my last RHC kanister (3 Liters) at prices of 50 Euro, so some days ago..
Then it could be an idea having a look on Udo Raffay's formulas (listed at the end of this list) https://www.moersch-photochemie.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Preisliste-online-2023.pdf
The founder of Compard and Labor Partner Companies once told me that their developers has been based on these receipes.

Before switching to Moersch's products I substituted RHC with Foma's hydrochinon based paper developer GD-L which is described as working contrasty.
Recommendation is diluting 1+3, but I have found diluting 1+1 gave me nearly identical appearance than RHC.

To my taste and all writing without scientic evidence both developers worked fine with my FB Fomatone VC and FB Fomabrom FB.
RHC stayed very long, whereas an open bottle of GD-L loved to die after 3 months. But have a look at his price (which doubled the last years after using it myself..).

DEVELOPER FOMA GD-L 5 L | flüssiges |FOMA BOHEMIA e-shop

flüssiges Konzentrat vom kontrastarbeitenden Hydrochinon-Entwickler Produktetikett

fomaobchod.cz

ADOX Fotoimpex · Apr 26, 2025

Elmarc said:
I entered your 'poll' asking for Dokumol and Centrabrom ;-)

Thank you- we will consider this

Larry Bullis · May 4, 2025

This is all very interesting. Not having been active here for quite a few years I’ve not been aware of all these new products. Right now, I’m trying to give away my darkroom (It’s in a trailer), move to another city where I will have to rely on commercially available products in a shared space.

I have built my chemistry from components for many years. I will miss my use of Beers print developer which gave me a contrast range of several grades and neutral blacks. Maybe I got some greenish tones but I’d never know it because I routinely gave the prints a short dip in selenium 1:9 if for no other reason, supposed permanence. Never noticed it. The selenium gave me a bit of additional strength in the black end.

Looks like I’ll be using Multigrade developer now unless I want to mix in the kitchen and carry jugs on the bus.

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Dokumol/Eukobrom alternatives?

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