Folgernol/Caffenol?

VoidoidRamone · Aug 29, 2004

I've been seeing the photos being posted using this developer (Folgernol/Caffenol), and they look very nice. My question is... is there any benefit to using this? Aside from the fact that you are creating printable negatives with coffee (!!), what are the benefits? I am very anxious to try this and wanted to know if anyone had some recommendations as to development times for APX 100 and Pan F+. I have several rolls of 120 to develop and figured this would be worth trying. Thanks for the help everyone. -Grant

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 29, 2004

I've tried it, and in my experience, the main benefits are to learn something about developer chemistry and to experience the novelty of developing negatives with stuff from the grocery store that isn't terribly toxic. I'm not sure, really, whether coffee is actually cheaper than a more conventional developer. In my experience, it produces a very sharp, grainy neg, not unlike ABC pyro, but with a higher base fog and less contrast.

photomc · Aug 29, 2004

Anyone have any thoughts on how well these negatives will keep? I've seen coffee and tea used to tone prints, but it has been established that they have no archival benefit for paper, would guess that the same is true for film. Not really important, just wondering.

gainer · Aug 29, 2004

photomc said:
Anyone have any thoughts on how well these negatives will keep? I've seen coffee and tea used to tone prints, but it has been established that they have no archival benefit for paper, would guess that the same is true for film. Not really important, just wondering.

AFIK, the image is still silver reduced from the silver halides by caffeine and mayhap some other fortuitous ingredients in the coffee. If they are porperly fixed and washed, they should last longer than you do. This is not a toning process, in other words.

Ed Sukach · Sep 22, 2004

David A. Goldfarb said:
I've tried it, and in my experience, the main benefits are to learn something about developer chemistry and to experience the novelty of developing negatives with stuff from the grocery store that isn't terribly toxic. I'm not sure, really, whether coffee is actually cheaper than a more conventional developer. In my experience, it produces a very sharp, grainy neg, not unlike ABC pyro, but with a higher base fog and less contrast.

This is one of those "I gotta try that...." deals that slipped by.

Any specific information... ratio of coffee to water ... times...???

Anything would be much appreciated.

David A. Goldfarb · Sep 22, 2004

Check the new "Chemistry Recipes" section for formulas and info.

titrisol · Sep 22, 2004

I posted the recipe in the Chemistry section and started a thread in the alternative section (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Folgernol/Caffenol?

VoidoidRamone

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

photomc

gainer

Ed Sukach

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

titrisol

Folgernol/Caffenol?

VoidoidRamone

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

photomc

gainer

Ed Sukach

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

titrisol

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency