ID-11 alternative?

Daniela · Feb 23, 2024

I just checked the 4 or 5 usual stores where I buy supplies and ID-11 is out of stock everywhere. Finally found a shop in Lille, put in an order only to get a phone call later telling me that it's out of stock and they don't expect new supplies for another month. No clue as to why this is happening...So, what other developers compare? I really like the fine grain and contrast I get with it.
Thanks!

Ulrik Christiansen · Feb 23, 2024

As far as I know, DD-X should be very close to ID-11. I haven't used ID-11, but DD-X is pretty fine grain, works well with pushing film and there's no problem using it at 1+9 dilution, which makes it pretty affordable too. I get around 19 rolls a bottle.

JPD · Feb 23, 2024

https://www.fotoimpex.com have ID-11 in stock, and the closest alternative: D-76.

cliveh · Feb 23, 2024

sliced bread, the best thing since D76

Anon Ymous · Feb 23, 2024

There's also Fomadon P, which is a D76 clone, but perhaps it's the time to consider scratch mixing. There's an upfront cost, but there are also benefits...

Daniela · Feb 23, 2024

cliveh said:
sliced bread, the best thing since D76

Nah, I don't buy sliced bread and prefer to keep fresh baguettes for my dinner

Thanks for the suggestions.
I'll look into those alternatives (and try to avoid paying for shipping or mixing from scratch - too complicated, also too lazy!)

Keith Tapscott. · Feb 23, 2024

Daniela said:
I just checked the 4 or 5 usual stores where I buy supplies and ID-11 is out of stock everywhere. Finally found a shop in Lille, put in an order only to get a phone call later telling me that it's out of stock and they don't expect new supplies for another month. No clue as to why this is happening...So, what other developers compare? I really like the fine grain and contrast I get with it.
Thanks!

I too had difficulty finding D76 and ID11. I managed to buy some Adox D76 as an alternative.
Hopefully ID11 and D76 will be available again soon.

pentaxuser · Feb 23, 2024

Daniela said:
I really like the fine grain and contrast I get with it.
Thanks!

My impression is the D23 produces both of your above requirements and does so at very close to or even at box speed i.e. the film speed on film's box

The only issue is that it has to be made at home from 2 simple powders; These are Metol and Sodium Sulphite. The amounts of each can be measured by using spoons that measure quantities used in baking in the kitchen or using simple kitchen scales

Once you have the powders you always have the means of making your own developer A lot will depend on whether you want to stay with commercial developers you can obtain in Lille and how long you may have to wait to buy them

If you need to get a commercial developer immediately then any available will do as any will produce reasonable negatives

pentaxuser

brian steinberger · Feb 23, 2024

Kodak D-76 is the same thing and is available here in the US. It’s also super easy to mix your own.

Ilford told me around the new year that ID-11 should be back in stock in early March.

Daniela · Feb 23, 2024

pentaxuser said:
The only issue is that it has to be made at home from 2 simple powders; These are Metol and Sodium Sulphite. The amounts of each can be measured by using spoons that measure quantities used in baking in the kitchen or using simple kitchen scales

This is interesting to know. I always assumed I'd need special equipment...

brian steinberger said:
Ilford told me around the new year that ID-11 should be back in stock in early March.

So it's not just here...thanks for sharing!

Keith Tapscott. said:
I too had difficulty finding D76 and ID11. I managed to buy some Adox D76 as an alternative.
Hopefully ID11 and D76 will be available again soon.

I just also bought some Adox D76 for now. Let's keep each other informed of any developments!

Carnie Bob · Feb 23, 2024

Daniela said:
I just checked the 4 or 5 usual stores where I buy supplies and ID-11 is out of stock everywhere. Finally found a shop in Lille, put in an order only to get a phone call later telling me that it's out of stock and they don't expect new supplies for another month. No clue as to why this is happening...So, what other developers compare? I really like the fine grain and contrast I get with it.
Thanks!

D76 is the same developer I think.

pentaxuser · Feb 23, 2024

This is interesting to know. I always assumed I'd need special equipment..

Daniela: If you wish to follow this up then have a look at this video. Given your interest in processing and printing you may want to look at several other of his videos I find them well presented. D-23 ís about as simple as it gets in terms of preparation

Here it is:
pentaxuser

Anon Ymous · Feb 23, 2024

Daniela said:
This is interesting to know. I always assumed I'd need special equipment...

You could get a cheap digital precision scale and be very accurate. That's 10€ worth of "special equipment".

fophem · Feb 23, 2024

Yes, D-76 is the same thing. You wrote you don't want to mix from scratch, but I agree with "Pentaxuser" D-23 can give the same kinds of results and it's not more complicated to mix than a bag of ID-11. You just need a scale. Sodium sulfite and metol are very easy to find. Since you live in France you could get everything from "Disactis" for instance.

Philippe-Georges · Feb 23, 2024

Anon Ymous said:
There's also Fomadon P, which is a D76 clone, but perhaps it's the time to consider scratch mixing. There's an upfront cost, but there are also benefits...

Here is D-76 from 1951:

Paul Howell · Feb 23, 2024

There are many versions of D76, the Kodak version has changed over the past 100 or so years, I think ID 11 is pretty close to a clone that the times are same as with D76. Ansco/GAF made a version, Foma sells a version,. Kodak HC 110 although chemical different from the D76 family was makrted by Kodak as liquid D76. HC 110 was changed a few years ago, I use the new version, works the same as the old and very close to D76. Xtol is a good alternative, Foma makes a clone of Extol as well. .

MattKing · Feb 23, 2024

Kodak had the benefit of a patent to a process that encapsulated certain components of commercially sold D76 - so they were able to sell it in single bags that offered excellent shelf life.
Ilford had no access to the use of that patent, so in order that their equivalent - ID-11 - could offer excellent shelf life, it had to come in two packages, that remained un-mixed until use.
The various recipes for mix your own D76 don't need to offer long packaged powder life or the ability to deal well with a variety of tap water quality, so they differ from the commercial versions.
Functionally, the mixed up stock solutions of the various flavours of D76/ID-11 are very similar.

What About Bob · Feb 24, 2024

+1 on the D23. I like D23 a lot. Developing times are very close to D76. Fine grained and can produce different contrasts. D23 is a good place to start and later on build your way up to adding extra chemicals to make up other recipes.

bernard_L · Feb 24, 2024

Daniela said:
I just also bought some Adox D76 for now. Let's keep each other informed of any developments!

Good decision. You don't want to start experimenting with alternates that produce "similar" results. Case in point D-23 (I've used both, for specific situations): why would Kodak (with its unequaled research and testing capabilities) have promoted for decades as a commercial product D-76 that requires at least two more chemicals (hydroquinone, borax, and, in the modern version, boric acid, plus maybe coating additives and Calgon), if the results are identical.
You don't want to find yourself, a year later, pondering: hmm, lately, my highlights maybe lack a little sparkle, hmm, , what did I change one year ago...
Not touting a particular developer; just advocating: stay with what you know, minimize variables, because there are already too many "unknown unknowns" to paraphrase D. Rumsfeld.

Daniela · Feb 24, 2024

Thank you so much everyone for the resources, opinions and encouragement!

fophem said:
"Disactis"

Thanks! Had never heard of them. And the forum seems like a great place to see what's available and learn the names of things in French

Don_ih · Feb 24, 2024

MattKing said:
Ilford had no access to the use of that patent, so in order that their equivalent - ID-11 - could offer excellent shelf life, it had to come in two packages, that remained un-mixed until use.

The only inconvenience would be to places that mixed up developer a barrel at a time, since they'd need two barrels of powder from Ilford instead of a single barrel from Kodak. Not many places doing that, now.

Adox claims their D76 works the same as Kodak D76, and I'd be inclined to believe them, The base formula that's been public forever gives results at times identical to Kodak D76. While getting into mixing various developers can be interesting and fun in itself, it can also be a major distraction and ultimate waste of time. (And I mix developers.)

awty · Feb 24, 2024

It's a bit ridiculous that D76 and ID-11 have been so hard to come by outside of USA lately.
I usually buy five, 1 US gallon packets of the stuff, which lasts about a year, when I ran out recently I tried getting some more, but couldn't find anything other than 1ltr packets. I had an old can from the eighties stashed away that was still good, but that is running out. Now I have just got my order of D76 chemistry that I will mix myself, it's only 4 ingredients plus water. Easy peasey.
I also mix my own pyrocat hd, wetplate developer, Vandyke brown, Cyanotype and other stuff. Mixing your own is easy, convenient and cheaper.

RalphLambrecht · Feb 24, 2024

Daniela said:
I just checked the 4 or 5 usual stores where I buy supplies and ID-11 is out of stock everywhere. Finally found a shop in Lille, put in an order only to get a phone call later telling me that it's out of stock and they don't expect new supplies for another month. No clue as to why this is happening...So, what other developers compare? I really like the fine grain and contrast I get with it.
Thanks!

It's well known that Kodak D76 is identical to Ilford ID11. Furthermore, formulae to prepare ID-11 or D76 from bulk chemicals are readily available on the internet. All the best.

FriedLouisStudio · Feb 24, 2024

I've been using Film Photography Project's D-76 equivalent, which has worked well - essentially exactly like Kodak D-76.

Darkroom Supplies - FPP-76 BW DEVELOPER - 1 Gallon (KODAK D-76 EQUIVALENT)

FPP76 BW Developer (Powder)Compare to Kodak D-76 - Same quality! The Nice Price! 1 Packet of FPP-76 powder to make 1 - US Gallon FPP-76 ( D76 ) provides full emulsion speed and excellent shadow detail with normal contrast, and produces fine grain with a variety of continuous-tone black-and-white...

filmphotographystore.com

I only use small quantities of film developer infrequently these days, and Kodak stopped selling Quart/Liter packages of D-76. I'd be throwing away most of a gallon when it was exhausted, so for me, it's convenient that FPP still sells Quart/Liter packages.

TomR55 · Feb 24, 2024

Ulrik Christiansen said:
As far as I know, DD-X should be very close to ID-11. I haven't used ID-11, but DD-X is pretty fine grain, works well with pushing film and there's no problem using it at 1+9 dilution, which makes it pretty affordable too. I get around 19 rolls a bottle.

If the OP is open to liquid concentrates, such as DD_X, why not Clayton’s F76+, which is more economical than DD-X, has a decent shelf-life (once opened, expect at least three months), is used at 1 + 9 dilution, and is available from FreeStyle in 32oz or smaller (12 oz?) bottles (as Arista Premium or some such thing)?

ID-11 alternative?

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