HC110 vs Ilford PQ

[Fatih Ayoglu]

Hi all,
Does anybody know a comparison of chemicals of these developer?

I understand both are based on dimesine-s/hydroquinone.

I’m trying to get a similar developer ratio to achieve similar results.

Many thanks,
Fatih

 

[bernard_L]

Ian Grant describes Ilford ID-62 as similar to Ilford PQ-U. Full information on his site. That is the paper developer that I use. Good keeping properties, good image quality with Ilford MG and Fomabrom Variant.

--ID-62 Universal Developer --

From what I've read HC-110 is not a similar formula to PQ-U. And cannot be made DIY. Unless you have some kind of chemistry lab. And the exact composition is not published.

Plus, HC-110 is meant as a film developer while PQ-U is meant as a universal developer (mostly paper nowadays). You did not state your intended use.

 

[Fatih Ayoglu]

Ian Grant describes Ilford ID-62 as similar to Ilford PQ-U. Full information on his site. That is the paper developer that I use. Good keeping properties, good image quality with Ilford MG and Fomabrom Variant.

--ID-62 Universal Developer --

From what I've read HC-110 is not a similar formula to PQ-U. And cannot be made DIY. Unless you have some kind of chemistry lab. And the exact composition is not published.

Plus, HC-110 is meant as a film developer while PQ-U is meant as a universal developer (mostly paper nowadays). You did not state your intended use.

Hi,

I’m planning to use it as a film developer to achieve low gamma extremely low contrast for masking purposes. Film in question would be Foma 100, FP4 and Bergger Print Film.

 

[Alan Johnson]

HC-110 dilution G is a go to developer for best you can do low contrast except for specialist developers, never heard of a universal developer used for this. There are some times in the massive development chart, eg:

Massive Dev Chart Film Development, Film Developing Database

www.digitaltruth.com

 

[rcphoto]

I wouldn't describe HC-110 as a low contrast developer. I've heard at extreme dilutions it can help to achieve lower contrast and a wider range of tones with lith films.

 

[john_s]

A good way to get low contrast is generous exposure, then less development time than standard.

 

[relistan]

I wouldn't describe HC-110 as a low contrast developer. I've heard at extreme dilutions it can help to achieve lower contrast and a wider range of tones with lith films.

Well, @Alan Johnson has a good bit of experience with low contrast developers, including formulating his own to work with some of the very contrasty films that are now for sale (search his various threads), so I would trust what he says about that dilution.

 

[Alan Johnson]

It depends what the OP wants, HC-110 dilution G 1+119 will get the least contrast from the developers he mentions.
To get lower contrast still would mean purchasing a specialist low contrast developer.

 

[Steven Lee]

Doesn't any developer become a low-contrast developer when you reduce the development time or temperature to a desired degree?

 

[Alan Johnson]

Yes, but there is a loss of effective emulsion speed.

 

[Fatih Ayoglu]

It depends what the OP wants, HC-110 dilution G 1+119 will get the least contrast from the developers he mentions.
To get lower contrast still would mean purchasing a specialist low contrast developer.

Alan, I am trying to get unsharp and contrast masks with these films. HC110 name keeps coming up but I dont have it, I have bunch of other developers, like PQ, Rodinal, Tetenal S, XTOL and can prepare easy developers as I have Absorbic Acid and Phenodine. But if I have to buy HC110, then I'll buy it. It is just GBP42 in here, and it is a highly concentrated developer, so very likely it will go bad before I can finish it.

 

[Fatih Ayoglu]

Doesn't any developer become a low-contrast developer when you reduce the development time or temperature to a desired degree?

Yes but also I need to get tonal range, if I drop the temperature or developing times, the dark areas of the original negative, which are the highlights on the positive becomes to weak or not developed enough. Therefore I actually extend the developing time while keeping the dilution low

 

[Alan Johnson]

If you have sodium sulfite and phenidone it would be possible to make POTA developer and find the times by experiment. If that is too low contrast, add a little Xtol.

 

[Ian Grant]

ID-3/D165 is a Metol based Soft working developer, and would be better for masking.

Ian

 

[Fatih Ayoglu]

ID-3/D165 is a Metol based Soft working developer, and would be better for masking.

Ian

Metol	6 g
Sodium Sulphite (anh)	25 g
Sodium Carbonate (anh)	37.5 g
Potassium Bromide	1 g
Water to	1 litre

Is this correct?

 

[Ian Grant]

Metol	6 g
Sodium Sulphite (anh)	25 g
Sodium Carbonate (anh)	37.5 g
Potassium Bromide	1 g
Water to	1 litre

Is this correct?

Yes.

Ian

 

[Milpool]

Historically people have used a variety of general purpose and/or universal developers for developing masks (even Dektol has been popular). The developer is simply diluted enough so that developing times for low gradients aren't too short. The main benefit of an inherently low contrast developer is more emulsion speed is retained relative to the reduced gradient, but this is of much less importance for masking applications than when a film is used in the field.

For standard CRMs a wide variety of developers can be used (including low contrast Phenidone-based developers) though certain curve shapes may be preferred. More specialized masks (for example sharp types) may or may not require more attention to the type of developer. In the end some experimentation/trial-error will always be involved when it comes to making masks. It is best to start simple.

 

[Steven Lee]

Yes but also I need to get tonal range, if I drop the temperature or developing times, the dark areas of the original negative, which are the highlights on the positive becomes to weak or not developed enough. Therefore I actually extend the developing time while keeping the dilution low

But tonal range and contrast measure exactly the same phenomenon, the only difference is in notation. Contrast is ratio, range is delta.