Formulary 130 & Ilford RC Papers

Are any of you using this combo? I realize the maximum potential of this developer is likely realized with FB papers, but would like to hear others experience with the Ilford VC RC papers.

I find deeper blacks with this combo than any other developer I have used with Ilford RC. As you say, 130 is at its best with fibre papers (I love it with MCC Agfa) but I still use it with RC too.

Pragmatist said:

Are any of you using this combo?

Click to expand...

I quite sure it's safe to say that A. Adams did not. Ansco
130 and his split version may have been his favorites.
He made a VC developer of 130 by placing the
hydroquinone portion in a separate solution.
Then by varying the amount of that
second solution he had in effect
a VC paper of Graded. Dan

130 works perfectly well with Ilford RC... really nice with Portfolio weight... and Postcards. It's my standard developer, so I use it for everything. It certainly lacks for nothing, and whatever potential is in the RC paper, it fulfills. I THINK the difference from dektol is, if shadows and midtones being equal, it's easier to squeeze Zone XI over the threshold. But I'm usually delirious in the darkrrom, so you'd best judge for yourself.

It IS better in that you can dilute it and slow the process down more efficiently than dektol, AND it is VERY good at batch processing.

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