Favorit Developer fro Ilford Multigrade FB?

aoresteen · Feb 1, 2016

What's your favorite developer for Ilford Multigrade FB and why? I've used Dektol and Zone VI Paper Developer (no longer available) in the past and as I get going in the darkroom again, I thought I might get some ideas for developers for Multigrade FB.

Thanks!

miha · Feb 1, 2016

Plain Multigrade developer works perfectly fine, keeps very well and doesn't leave sludge in the tray.

MattKing · Feb 1, 2016

Kodak Polymax T is what I use for everything. Performance similar to Dektol, in a liquid concentrate.

lauffray · Feb 1, 2016

Multigrade developer, love that it's a solution I don't have to pre-mix

Darkroom317 · Feb 1, 2016

I really like Ansco 130 (Formulary 130). Nice tones and it lasts a long time. I will say that it is a pain to mix compared to some other developers but worth it.

DREW WILEY · Feb 1, 2016

Which multigrade? I have different formulas for different versions. But if you want a published elixir, it's hard to go wrong with 130 for Warmtone and Classic. I don't use it for Cooltone, however, or it won't come out cool!

Rick A · Feb 1, 2016

I use LPD for everything, different dilutions for warm or cool tones with no change in developing times.

tony lockerbie · Feb 1, 2016

I used to use LPD, but the cost of getting it from the States is too high now. I really liked that developer, but now have settled for Dektol, easy to mix and consistent.

winger · Feb 1, 2016

I use Ilford multigrade developer, but have used Sprint in the past (it was easy to get when I lived in MA and no shipping). I only use liquid concentrates as powders are just not worth it to me (pain to mix and I have asthma so I don't need any more dust in the air).

aoresteen · Feb 2, 2016

Thanks all! I'm not a fan of liquid developers as they seem to cost more (shipping issues as well) but I'm going to look into them. Definitely going to try Ansco 130 as well.

Neal · Feb 2, 2016

Dear Tony,

Arista "Ultra Cold Tone Developer" from Freestyle has a nice crisp look with Ilford Multigrade IV.

Neal Wydra

Rick A · Feb 2, 2016

winger said:
I use Ilford multigrade developer, but have used Sprint in the past (it was easy to get when I lived in MA and no shipping). I only use liquid concentrates as powders are just not worth it to me (pain to mix and I have asthma so I don't need any more dust in the air).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

LPD is available as a liquid as well.

RalphLambrecht · Feb 2, 2016

aoresteen said:
What's your favorite developer for Ilford Multigrade FB and why? I've used Dektol and Zone VI Paper Developer (no longer available) in the past and as I get going in the darkroom again, I thought I might get some ideas for developers for Multigrade FB.

Thanks!

I'm Dektol 1+2 all the way for all papers;FB around 3 min at 70F

Dali · Feb 2, 2016

tony lockerbie said:
I used to use LPD, but the cost of getting it from the States is too high now. I really liked that developer, but now have settled for Dektol, easy to mix and consistent.

LPD costs more than Dektol but lasts forever... My current LPD batch is 2.5 years old and is still going strong. I replenish it but I did not use it all yet...

JackRosa · Feb 12, 2016

Darkroom317 said:
I really like Ansco 130 (Formulary 130). Nice tones and it lasts a long time. I will say that it is a pain to mix compared to some other developers but worth it.

+1

Ben 4 · Feb 13, 2016

Ilford Bromophen — I've been a fan for years.

removed account4 · Feb 13, 2016

JackRosa said:
+1

+2 ( dektol is a close 2nd )

StephenT · Feb 15, 2016

DAK · Mar 4, 2016

Liquidol

Roger Cole · Mar 4, 2016

Rick A said:
I use LPD for everything, different dilutions for warm or cool tones with no change in developing times.

+1. LPD. My favorite paper developer ever by a large margin.

aoresteen said:
Thanks all! I'm not a fan of liquid developers as they seem to cost more (shipping issues as well) but I'm going to look into them. Definitely going to try Ansco 130 as well.

LPD is available as either liquid or powder, though the liquid is more concentrated than the stock you mix from powder so the dilutions for working strength are different. But the instructions are clear about that. I've used both and with the proper dilution they are, to me anyway, indistinguishable. The powder is much less expensive.

Roger Cole · Mar 4, 2016

Rick A said:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

LPD is available as a liquid as well.

Oops, great minds - should have read on ahead.

Doc W · Mar 4, 2016

RalphLambrecht said:
I'm Dektol 1+2 all the way for all papers;FB around 3 min at 70F

Same as me. So why aren't my photos as good as yours?

But seriously, I like Dektol a lot and if you play with it you can coax warmtones out of MGIV FB.

Roger Cole · Mar 4, 2016

Dektol. Ooo boy, Dektol. I have hated that stuff since I first discovered there were alternatives.

It works fine, and it's readily available and pretty cheap. But it leaves blue stains anywhere that you even look at while using it (I know, I shouldn't ever try amidol) and the working strength mix is good for one session. People keep telling me otherwise but I've tried it many times and it just doesn't keep as a working strength solution, at least for me, even in full tightly capped bottles.

YMMV of course. I don't think any print is going to succeed or fail because it's developed in Dektol versus LPD versus MG developer versus fill-in-the-blank. For the most part they all work well enough, just pick the one whose other traits you like.

Doc W · Mar 4, 2016

hey Roger, blue stains? What paper are you using?

Favorit Developer fro Ilford Multigrade FB?

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