HP5 but no aculux

RIchardn · Oct 24, 2006

I've always developed HP5 in aculux and got results I am happy with but now I can't get Aculux does any one have a suggestion for a good replacement?
Also Does anyone have news if aculux is going to become available again?

david b · Oct 24, 2006

Hi Rich and welcome to APUG.

There have been several threads about HP5+ lately so you might want to give a search a try.

I've used it mostly with ID-11 (1+1) but have also used it with xtol and have always gotten results that I am happy with.

I will be trying it with Ilfotec HC in the next day or so and will report back.

Good luck.

Keith Tapscott. · Oct 24, 2006

RIchardn said:
I've always developed HP5 in aculux and got results I am happy with but now I can't get Aculux does any one have a suggestion for a good replacement?
Also Does anyone have news if aculux is going to become available again?

The instruction leaflet supplied with the original Aculux, stated that it contained Metol and Hydroquinone, so is probably a liquid variant of the D-76/ID-11 and Adox MQ solvent type.
I don`t know how Aculux 2 differs from the original version, as Paterson are very sparse with the details in their MSDS these days.

FrankB · Oct 24, 2006

(there was a url link here which no longer exists) thread suggested that the Paterson chemical range might be making a comeback. No recent news though.

RIchardn · Oct 24, 2006

I spoke to Pattersons this morning and was told that they will be continuing with their B&W chemicals including an improved aculux but they don't expect to have them on the market till the new year.
In the mean time I have films that need to be developed. It sounds like it might be worth my giving ID11 a try.
thanks for all your help
Richard

John Bragg · Oct 24, 2006

Hi Richard.
That is good news indeed. I use their paper dev, stop and fixer from time to time. Thanks for the update.

Regards, John.

Michael W · Oct 24, 2006

I really like the look of HP5 in XTOL

FrankB · Oct 24, 2006

RIchardn said:
I spoke to Pattersons this morning and was told that they will be continuing with their B&W chemicals including an improved aculux but they don't expect to have them on the market till the new year.

Thanks for that, Richard.

Hmmm... I always get a little nervous when companies start "improving" products that are already very good. "If it ain't broke" and all that...

MikeSeb · Oct 24, 2006

I'll second the recommendation for HP5+ in Xtol. Up to 1+2 it looks good. Great creamy smooth tones and tasty grain, not too big or too small.

Terry Beal · Oct 24, 2006

I've found that the new version of promicrol gives very good results with HP5but not using the times supplied with the developer. Having used the old powder version of promicrol in the past I thought I'd try this new version but was initially disappointed. The supplied times gave a speed increase as suggested but also more grain and contrast than I wanted.
Googling around I found a German website www.artgrey.com where they recommended shorter times and higher dilutions. Now I've settled on 400asa and 8 and 1/2 minutes at 24C and 1:19 dilution; this gives me a combination of grain and sharpness far better than I achieve with D76 at 1:1.
On their website in the Information section they have a heading verarbeitungstipps where you can find several useful data sheets.

Mark Pope · Oct 24, 2006

ID11 works well, but my current favourites are DDX for 35mm and Perceptol for 4x5.

HP5 but no aculux

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