Formulary Pyro versions

[OptiKen]

I was disappointed with some Rollei Infared 400S that I recently shot - mostly problems with the photographer - but I wanted to try a pyro developer for additional tones and finer grain. I would like to also try it on Arista EDU 100 & 400 as well as SFX200.
I've never used Pyro or PMK but like the look of some stuff I've seen developed in it on SFX200 and the Arista films.
So, where to start????

Formulary lists a Gordon Hutchings PMK formula and a Wimberley WD2D+ Pyro formula as well as Pyrocat-HD. Can someone tell me the difference and appropriateness of these developers?

 

[Axle]

I've been using the Formulary's PMK Pyro formula for a couple years now with great results! And have used it on numerous films, 35mm, Medium and Large Formats.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I was disappointed with some Rollei Infared 400S that I recently shot - mostly problems with the photographer - but I wanted to try a pyro developer for additional tones and finer grain. I would like to also try it on Arista EDU 100 & 400 as well as SFX200.
I've never used Pyro or PMK but like the look of some stuff I've seen developed in it on SFX200 and the Arista films.
So, where to start????

Formulary lists a Gordon Hutchings PMK formula and a Wimberley WD2D+ Pyro formula as well as Pyrocat-HD. Can someone tell me the difference and appropriateness of these developers?

I have used PMK and Pyrocat developers, but not Wd2d+. Both of the ones I used I love, but for different reasons.

PMK Pyro gives about half box speed, so shoot Tri-X at 200, for example. The tonality and sharpness is amazing, and the grain it pretty accentuated, but super sharp. Acutance is really something incredible. It prints completely different on graded paper due to the vast amounts of stain it yields. On VC paper it can look a little dull compared to other non-staining developers, while on graded paper it can really pop. As always it depends on how you use it. Tonality is pretty neutral.

Pyrocat-HD is a different animal. It gives the shadows some pretty heavy emphasis, sort of like a bass guitar or baritone sax. It yields pretty well full emulsion speed, and definitely has finer grain than PMK. The color of the stain is different, and again graded paper responds better to the negs than does VC paper. Pyrocat can be used in a more flexible manner with standard agitation, reduced agitation, as well as standing development. PMK doesn't allow for that and will yield uneven results pretty quickly.

Out of the two developers I've tested, there are few developers that yield more grain than PMK. But it is fun, and the grain is so sharp, that it's difficult to care when looking at beautiful prints from it. Pyrocat yields much finer grain, but has a heavier darker inherent tonality than PMK.
I would say they are two different developers that complement each other fairly well.

 

[DREW WILEY]

PMK has been my standard developer for years for both sheet film dev in trays and hand inversion tanks for 35mm and 120 roll film. I don't
recommend it for automated drum development due to excess aerial oxidation. Another very popular developer is Pyrocat-HD which obviously has a different main ingredient, but also yields a different stain color and a bit different grain. There are dozens of different pyro formulas out there with the potential for endless debates over minor nuances between them. I'd just pick a popular one and stick with it until you discover something you don't like and want to experiment more. I've personally tried quite a number on many kinds of film. How stain affects actual printing grain effect is a complicated subject, and you can't genericize it based on any single film or paper. Otherwise, I can't add much to what previous posts haven't already pointed out. Just pick one.

 

[Rick A]

I started out using Pyrocat HD, loved it. I switched to PMK Pyro after reading that it favors atmospheric conditions (fog) better than other pyro developers. I believe it.

Arista EDU Ultra 100 in PMK Pyro

 

[mrred]

I have used 2 batches of wd2d+ and generally what it did, but found it too soft with 35mm to keep using it. I tried a small bottle of pyrocat hd (water) and thought it was better, but went bad before I used it all.

I decided to make it from scratch and ordered the ingredients. When it arrived I decided to try hypercat too. In the end, I am the most happy with the hypercat. It gives me better detail and is a simpler recipe. The downside is you can't buy it.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Dennis S]

I have used 2 batches of wd2d+ and generally what it did, but found it too soft with 35mm to keep using it. I tried a small bottle of pyrocat hd (water) and thought it was better, but went bad before I used it all.

I decided to make it from scratch and ordered the ingredients. When it arrived I decided to try hypercat too. In the end, I am the most happy with the hypercat. It gives me better detail and is a simpler recipe. The downside is you can't buy it.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Yes I am taking your advice from Flickr and going with the Hypercat also. I have already have a fair amount of Ascorbic Acid powder from my Cafinal encounter a few years ago. It has been sealed in a bottle which has been covered with Saran wrap and is not crystallized and still feels like powder so it should still be good. Just obtaining the Catechol is my challenge.

 

[Trask]

I've been using the Formulary's PMK Pyro formula for a couple years now with great results! And have used it on numerous films, 35mm, Medium and Large Formats.

This is a great shot -- viewed large, you feel you can walk into it. Large format?

 

[MDR]

As some posters said different stain brown vs greenish so different highlight control. For sublime delicacy WD2D+ is hard to beat but you will also loose the highest amount of speed. PMK and Pyrocat also have a larger user and therefore support base. PMK propably has a bit better highlight control than Pyrocat. Don't discount Jay De Fehrs 510 pyro it is probably the easiest to use pyro developer and one of the best choices for the beginner. Hypercat is my favourite pyro dev. A bit sharper than pyrocat but nearly it's equal in the highlights