ID11 - suggestions on use

[Matt5791]

I've never been one for powdered chemicals, but I have bought a 1 litre pack of ID11.

I am thinking of using at 1:1 - however this looks pretty pricy unless I re-use.

What I am wondering is this: I have a container with 1 litre of ID11 freshly mixed. I process 1 120 roll of film. Do I pour the once used dev back into the same container or a separate container?

What would generally be the increase in dev time if I pour it back into the same container? - I see it says +10% for the second roll on the packet but does not specify if you keep it separate once used - little confused.

Thanks for any help, Matt.

 

[pentaxuser]

I've never been one for powdered chemicals, but I have bought a 1 litre pack of ID11.

I am thinking of using at 1:1 - however this looks pretty pricy unless I re-use.

What I am wondering is this: I have a container with 1 litre of ID11 freshly mixed. I process 1 120 roll of film. Do I pour the once used dev back into the same container or a separate container?

What would generally be the increase in dev time if I pour it back into the same container? - I see it says +10% for the second roll on the packet but does not specify if you keep it separate once used - little confused.

Thanks for any help, Matt.

If I have understood you correctly, you are proposing making a stock solution then from this making up a 1:1 solution. My understanding is this dilution has a very limited shelf life but can be used again if it is virtually immediately for a second and further rolls according to the instructions. This makes it economical. This 1:1 solution has to be disposed of once it has been used. I would keep it separate while using it for other rolls provided it was done in the same batch of rolls. Then I'd throw it away. I don't think you're suggesting mixing the diluted solution with stock solution but certainly don't do this if you were.

ID11 stock solution will keep for quite a long time if air is kept out.

pentaxuser

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Get 4 250ml amber glass Boston Round bottles with polyseal lids. Mix the 1 liter of ID-11 stock and then fill the 250ml bottles to the top with it and seal them. Each bottle will last for several months (unused). You can dilute the stock 1+1 or 1+3 with water and use the resulting solution as a one-shot developer (use it and dump it).

If you use one of the 250ml bottles of stock as an undiluted developer, you can return the used developer to (the same) bottle and then top it up (fill up the bottle) with unused stock solution (thus replenishing it). The used developer (in the full tightly sealed bottle) may last up to 2 months - you will need to keep track of the time and useage for each bottle.

IMHO better to dilute the stock and use it as a one-shot.

 

[Ian Grant]

In commercially photography ID-11 (or D76) is used in deep tanks and replenished.

Once the developer has stabilised and is no longer just fresh ID-11 the results are similar to using a fresh solution at 1+1

As it was formulated as a motion picture developer it was meant to be used on a continuous basis and replenished, and as such gives its best results used in this way.

If you have to dilute it then there are published times for1+1 and 1+3, from experience I'd suggest 1+2 is far better, the time can be extrapolated in a spread sheet, or by drawing a graph

Ian

 

[Blighty]

I'd go down the 'one-shot' route myself. Diluting 1+1 gives me excellent negs. I've tried it at 1+3, and while it handled contrasty scenes admirably, there was a penalty to pay in increased granularity (not much, but enough to be annoying).

 

[Ian Grant]

That's why I'd suggest 1+2

Ian

I'd go down the 'one-shot' route myself. Diluting 1+1 gives me excellent negs. I've tried it at 1+3, and while it handled contrasty scenes admirably, there was a penalty to pay in increased granularity (not much, but enough to be annoying).

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

I've never been one for powdered chemicals, but I have bought a 1 litre pack of ID11.

I am thinking of using at 1:1 - however this looks pretty pricy unless I re-use.

What I am wondering is this: I have a container with 1 litre of ID11 freshly mixed. I process 1 120 roll of film. Do I pour the once used dev back into the same container or a separate container?

What would generally be the increase in dev time if I pour it back into the same container? - I see it says +10% for the second roll on the packet but does not specify if you keep it separate once used - little confused.

Thanks for any help, Matt.

For maximum economy, buy the 5 litre size pack of ID-11 and the ID-11R replenisher which comes in packs to make 2.5 litres. You will need suitably sized storage containers for these and you can download the technical data from the Ilford website.

 

[PhotoJim]

ID-11 isn't at all pricey. I'm not aware of any liquid film developers that are cheaper to use than ID-11. Shipping all that water costs quite a lot of money.

When I use it, I dilute it 1:1. I plan to experiment with the 1:3 dilution too. At 150 mL per 35mm roll of film (plus 150 mL of water to make 300 total) in a Paterson tank, a litre of ID-11 will do you nine rolls of film with 100 mL left to add to your next batch.

 

[Gerald Koch]

Dilute developers cannot be saved and reused. If you intend to re-use ID-11 without replenishment then you must use the developer full strength and return the used developer to what is remaining. For the next roll extend the development time by 10%. I believe that the maximum number of rolls using this method is 10 per liter.

For consistency of development it is best to use developers as one-shots. Re-using ID-11 with or without replenishment causes an decrease in density and an increase in contrast between rolls. This becomes more obvious as more rolls are run through the developer. This is less of a problem with phenidone based developers such as Ilford Microphen which are less susceptable to bromide buildup.