good paper developer recommendations (asks a Dektol user)

pellicle · Mar 5, 2008

Hi

I'm about to purchase some Dektol, and thought "why not try something different"

So, if anyone has any other recommendations for me to try its for contact developing Ilford Portfolio RC paper. (which I have never used yet)

Thanks

Ian Grant · Mar 5, 2008

Why not Ilford Multigrade or PQ Universal.

Ian

ann · Mar 5, 2008

you might consider LPD, great tray life, also, can be used in various dilutions ratios for changing tones

mikebarger · Mar 5, 2008

If I don't use Dektol, I use Ansco 130. I actually like the 130 better, but forget to always have it on hand.
Plus I got a great deal on several 5 gallon boxes of Dektol.
Mike

srs5694 · Mar 5, 2008

For every developer on the market, you'll find somebody who recommends it, although some only for certain papers, subjects, etc. Personally, I use the mix-it-yourself DS-14 and its commercial cousin, Tektol. I'm drawn to them largely because they're phenidone/ascorbate (PC) developers, which are safer (from health and environmental perspectives) than metol/hydroquinone (MQ) developers like Dektol. This health and safety difference is small, but as DS-14 and Tektol do the job as well as Dektol for me, I might as well use the PC developer.

That said, if you're trying a new paper, as I read your post as saying, then I'd recommend you stick with a developer you know, at least for the moment. If you switch both paper and developer at the same time, you won't really know if any differences you see are because of the paper alone, the developer alone, or an interaction between the two.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Mar 5, 2008

PolymaxT is a great developer to nail that perfectly neutral black. 130 followed by selenium toning is right now my favorite paper chemistry.

But as was said before, all products on the market are good, not that different from each other, unless you really know what you want from your workflow.

bdial · Mar 5, 2008

Liquidol works good, lasts a long time, it's available from the Formulary. It was invented by a well-respected APUG member. It's packaged as a liquid concentrate so it's a little less hassle to use than Dektol.
I can't tell the difference between prints processed in Ansco 130 and Liquidol.

Kirk Keyes · Mar 5, 2008

I've used Liquidol as well and it looks really good.

pesphoto · Mar 5, 2008

Sprint chemicals are easy to use and yield awesome results. I've used them for years.
http://sprintsystems.com/

BradS · Mar 5, 2008

I've always used Dektol or it's predecessor, D-72. It works great so, never looked any further.

PVia · Mar 5, 2008

ann said:
you might consider LPD, great tray life, also, can be used in various dilutions ratios for changing tones

I agree...great tones and incredible working solution life. Seems like you can print forever with no change in the factor!

Anscojohn · Mar 5, 2008

pellicle said:
Hi

I'm about to purchase some Dektol, and thought "why not try something different"

So, if anyone has any other recommendations for me to try its for contact developing Ilford Portfolio RC paper. (which I have never used yet)

Thanks

********
I suggest you use Dektol to try your new paper. When you see what that looks like, then change developers. One variable at a time.

John, Mount Vernon, Virginia USA

MarkS · Mar 5, 2008

My experience has been that with modern cold-tone papers, developer choice doesn't matter a whole lot. Ansco 130 does produce a subtly different tone, but its cost and the 3' dev time sent me back to Dektol. Having tried Amidol, 130, Ilford and Zone VI developers, Dektol is the best compromise. And I'll second Anscojohn's recommendation above.

Phillip P. Dimor · Mar 5, 2008

I'm an Ethol LPD user too. I've a gallon of stock solution that I had mixed a year ago and it's still fine. It lasts and lasts and lasts.. You can dilute it working strength to make it either a cold or warm-tone, it's cheap. You can replenish it even. I like it.

Thomas Bertilsson · Mar 5, 2008

That is really good advice! I've used the same paper developer for over a year now, and I have to say I learn every time. I do not plan on changing either.
It's my opinion that it's more how you use it than what you use. Any developer recommended will be fantastic.

- Thomas

Anscojohn said:
********
I suggest you use Dektol to try your new paper. When you see what that looks like, then change developers. One variable at a time.

John, Mount Vernon, Virginia USA

fschifano · Mar 5, 2008

Dektol is to paper developers, as D-76 is to film developers. Sure there are differences in paper developers. If you look closely though, many of them are pretty much variations on the Dektol formula. I like the stuff, and haven't seen much of a good reason to switch. It can be tweaked with the addition of more water and maybe a little bit of restrainer to be a warm tone developer like Selectol. What's not to like? An Amidol or Glycin based developer will behave differently, but those are altogether different animals. If you want to try something different, make sure it really is or you won't notice if much or anything is substantially changed.

pellicle · Mar 6, 2008

Good morning folks

I thought I'd let everyone who suggested that I'm going to order Dektol (and the new paper) which I'll play with first then try something like the Tektol. I'm attracted to the non metol ascorbic acid base under the apprehension that it might be less toxic to me and perhaps allow me to return to working without gloves in the future (I prefered to have a wet and a dry hand and quickly splash my fingers in a water tray after being briefly in fix or dev then touch a towel to dry) seems more natural and shouldn't be too hazardous without metol and hydroquinone)

Mike Crawford · Mar 7, 2008

'perhaps allow me to return to working without gloves in the future'

Oh blimey. Please get the gloves back on. Why would anyone choose to dip or soak their fingers in any photographic solution? Not nice; fingers smell bad despite a quick rinse, can contaminate paper, (and of course skin), and all the things that are touched in the darkroom. Not for me.

good paper developer recommendations (asks a Dektol user)

Membership Council

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency