Dr. Beers in a Slot Processor

I read that Dr. Beers should be discarded after each session. Does that apply to slot processor use as well, where it would be covered without any air? How long should it last, mixed and covered?

Any "discard at the end of printing session" claim is dubious at best because conditions can vary in terms of oxidation. In short, no. A well covered slot processor will last somewhat as long as the bottle itself. I would say it will last until you use it to completion. The bottom line is that if you see the image contrast dropping, it may be time to switch it out. Use your own judgement.

"Dr. Beers" is a two-part paper developer, whose compounds are to be mixed in a way to control contrast in b&w processing without changing paper grade.
(For those of you, who, as me, never heard of that name.)

Beer's A to B

cbphoto said:

I read that Dr. Beers should be discarded after each session.
Does that apply to slot processor use as well, where it would
be covered without any air?

Click to expand...

How long it will last? That will take some working with.
The A portion is all metol while the B portion is all
hydroquinone. The two are blended in varying
proportion in order to affect the contrast.
The blends themselves may vary in
their keeping. Dan

I have never found Dr Beers developers last very long in open trays - so the normal recommendation to dump at the end of each day has good merrit

In a slot processor they will last longer

How long - no idea

You will need to try it and find out - I could see where they might last 2~3days max - but really your on your own on this one

Are you using 2 slots - one hard & one soft?

Martin

dancqu said:

How long it will last? That will take some working with.
The A portion is all metol while the B portion is all
hydroquinone. The two are blended in varying
proportion in order to affect the contrast.
The blends themselves may vary in
their keeping. Dan

Click to expand...

I'll be using mostly the higher contrast dilutions.

Martin Aislabie said:

I have never found Dr Beers developers last very long in open trays - so the normal recommendation to dump at the end of each day has good merrit

In a slot processor they will last longer

How long - no idea

You will need to try it and find out - I could see where they might last 2~3days max - but really your on your own on this one

Are you using 2 slots - one hard & one soft?

Martin

Click to expand...

Just one. I find that some of my negs can't be printed hard enough on papers like Slavich #4, so I thought I'd try to boost the contrast a little bit with developer.

Are there are any non-variable developers that are harder than Beers @ #7?

A Beer's 9

cbphoto said:

Just one. I find that some of my negs can't be printed hard
enough on papers like Slavich #4, so I thought I'd try to
boost the contrast a little bit with developer.

Are there are any non-variable developers that
are harder than Beers @ #7?

Click to expand...

I was only a few days ago working with a blend I dubbed
Beer's 9. I think that about the highest contrast possible.
The very few other very high contrast developers top
out at about that 1:9 ratio of metol to hydroquinone.

It all has to do with the ratio of metol to hydroquinone.
Going to yet higher ratios likely will result in a loss
of good gradation.

Actually Beer's is 7 different developers. The softest,
which is the A portion only, is equal to Ansco 120 and
Selectol Soft. Ansco 120 and Beer's A share the same
formula; Beer's being 2/3 the strength.

I tested Slavich Grade 2 and had, using Beer's 7, about
a full grade boost over Beer's 1. I found Slavich to be
a very contrasty paper. If grade 4 pushed grade
6 I wouldn't be surprised. Dan

I read one of your old posts, dancqu, about Beers and Slavich, and that's what got me interested.