Ethol LPD New Packaging

[Rick A]

Many of you know I closed down my darkroom because I sold my house, or so I thought. The sale fell through, so I unpacked some of my gear, and bought a package of LPD so I can print a few photos. B&H won't ship the powder any more, so I ordered from Freestyle. It came this afternoon, so I mixed the new foil one gallon pack. Here's the results, brown. My old LPD that was three years old wasn't this brown. This is the first time I've received a foil packet of it, it always came in a metal can. I sent an email to Freestyle customer service about it, waiting for a reply. And yes, that is distilled water I mixed with.

 

[NedL]

I've been kicking myself for not stocking up while it was still in cans... didn't know the change was coming or I would've done it. I don't like the look of that, mine is almost water clear. Hopefully it was a one-off occurrence and they'll ship you a new pack that will be right.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Looks nasty but I've seen batches that looked worse and still worked OK. Give it a test.

 

[1kgcoffee]

Mine was exactly the same but worked fine.

 

[ann]

Been that color for years including the cans but the results are fine

The Liquid version is very pale which has always made me wonder why the difference

 

[Rick A]

Well, first test print in the LPD this morning, two minutes in developer test strip looks really close. Then I made a full size print. After nearly three full minutes in developer, I did a second print with 2.5x exposure, and got a muddy print. In date Ilford MG RC paper. I'm definitely calling Freestyle.

 

[Dali]

The last time I ordered LPD, it came with in this new packaging. I did not use it yet as my current LPD came from a can. I need to mix some fresh developer soon so I will have a close look at the color. Usually, when new, LPD is kind of transparent and becomes brown after several development session.

 

[NedL]

I save stock solution to use as replenishment... I have a batch mixed January 2014 that is still water-clear.
Yes the working solution turns brown but still works fine...

 

[Rick A]

Well, an email to Freestyle customer service is still unanswered, so I called, talked to someone in that department and was told "a person who knows all about developers will call me back. Been waiting all danged day. I tracked down the only other person in town that I know has a darkroom, bought a bag of Dektol off him yesterday. At least I can print.

 

[Roger Cole]

Hm. I have an unmixed can. I took would have stocked up had I known - or at least had I known and suspected it would be an issue, as I've never had a problem with foil bags of other chems, aside from the original Xtol. Maybe they'll get it sorted out.

LPD is far and away my all time favorite paper developer. If I encounter problems with the bags I'll just pay more for the liquid. I like it that much.

 

[esearing]

We all miss the Cans. My last batch mixed in April was from the foil pouch and stock is a mid to dark tea color. I used some last night at 1:2 and it worked fine for 10 8x10 prints at 2 minutes with barely noticeable change at 3 minutes.
You did not indicate your dilution. I have found 1:4 in the foil pouch version takes about 5 minutes to fully develop which is longer than the can version, and higher dilutions are not feasible.
If using with Multigrade papers you don't get a warmer/softer tone at 1:4 than you do at 1:1 as with the older papers, just more economy.

I still like LPD better than Ilford Multigrade, Dektol, and PF versions on MGFB WarmTone papers. PF106 is a similar soft developer in appearance but is slower working.

 

[Roger Cole]

Well there's still the liquid, which is of course way more convenient if also way more expensive. I've bought it before just to not have to fool with mixing powders into hot water then cooling etc.

Adorama will ship it and shows the cans, but the photo may be old.

It shouldn't be different in the foil bags. That probably indicates some degree of oxidation from oxygen penetrating the packaging which would also be consistent with needing longer times and the higher dilutions not being viable. Maybe they'll refine the packaging as they go along and get feedback.

 

[Rick A]

We all miss the Cans. My last batch mixed in April was from the foil pouch and stock is a mid to dark tea color. I used some last night at 1:2 and it worked fine for 10 8x10 prints at 2 minutes with barely noticeable change at 3 minutes.
You did not indicate your dilution. I have found 1:4 in the foil pouch version takes about 5 minutes to fully develop which is longer than the can version, and higher dilutions are not feasible.
If using with Multigrade papers you don't get a warmer/softer tone at 1:4 than you do at 1:1 as with the older papers, just more economy.

I still like LPD better than Ilford Multigrade, Dektol, and PF versions on MGFB WarmTone papers. PF106 is a similar soft developer in appearance but is slower working.

It still looked like a cup of coffee after diluting 1+1. The original photo is mixing to stock, it immediately went dark brown. I've been using LPD for many years, never seen it this color until after much use.

 

[Rick A]

Well there's still the liquid, which is of course way more convenient if also way more expensive. I've bought it before just to not have to fool with mixing powders into hot water then cooling etc.

Adorama will ship it and shows the cans, but the photo may be old.

It shouldn't be different in the foil bags. That probably indicates some degree of oxidation from oxygen penetrating the packaging which would also be consistent with needing longer times and the higher dilutions not being viable. Maybe they'll refine the packaging as they go along and get feedback.

I purchased from Freestyle, their ad shows the can.

 

[mshchem]

I purchased from Freestyle, their ad shows the can.

It should not be brown. I switched to Ilford Bromophen close to 20 years back. Like LPD it uses phenidone instead of metol for a developing agent. I keep Bromophen stock in small bottles, dilute 1:3 for use. Dektol is a great developer as well, cheap, available etc. I seem to get better results with toners using Bromophen. Bromophen, like old LPD is nearly water clear when freshly mixed. When it oxidizes it turns brown. I still have a can of LPD and UFG, make nice keepsakes.
Mike

 

[Arklatexian]

Looks nasty but I've seen batches that looked worse and still worked OK. Give it a test.

+1

 

[Dali]

It still looked like a cup of coffee after diluting 1+1. The original photo is mixing to stock, it immediately went dark brown. I've been using LPD for many years, never seen it this color until after much use.

Rick, I just prepared some developer from a LPD pouch and like you, it is brownish... Did you note the batch number? Mine is 6788, if it can help...

 

[NedL]

Just mixed up a new gallon of LPD from the foil pouch and it is very dark brown. The powder was dark too. 1:2 dilution looks almost the same dark brown as my batch from 2014 which started clear and is now dead. Test strip is dark grey at 2 minutes and a good black at 3 minutes. I was expecting it to be a little faster but not really sure since I normally use it replenished. I guess I'll use it and see what happens but I hope the stock solution will last a long time bottled up w/ no air. Batch 10679.

 

[ann]

Been using this for at least 25 years and find the powder version varies in color which seems strange. Also, the Liquid version is almost clear which I fine very strange, however it all seems to work the same with my students work