Ilford Multigrade Developer life

Wayne · Jan 22, 2009

How long does the working solution last, if unused? Ilford says 1 day which is definitely very wrong. I've used it at least one week out and it was fine.

I would think its pretty similar to their Ilfochrome developer (which is actually what I use it as) and that lasts a lot more than a day too, I think on the order of several weeks.

Yes, I know chemicals are cheap.

PhotoJim · Jan 22, 2009

I found I got noticeably inferior results if I used the working solution a day or more later. Have you done a side-by-side print comparison?

If you want to use a developer that has a working solution that will last a long time, consider using Ansco 130. (You can mix it from scratch, or buy it in kits from Photographer's Formulary.) The stock solution lasts a year or even two. Working solution will easily last for a couple of months (at least at the standard 1:1 dilution I use).

Wayne · Jan 22, 2009

I dont want to waste glycin on Ilfochrome, although I suppose it should be tried once for fun. But no, I havent done side by sides. I just know last time I used an unused week old solution I got acceptable prints, and when I used to mix my own PQ Ilfochrome developers from scratch I regularly kept them for many days and I think even a few weeks. Been a few years so I dont recall exactly.

PhotoJim · Jan 22, 2009

Glycin is expensive, but with the extended life of the stock and working solutions, I figure I save money using it versus using standard PQ or HQ developers.

How well Ansco 130 would work with Ilfochrome, I have no idea.

I can't comment on Ilfochrome, but I definitely notice a decrease in quality and in D-Max (density of maximum black) when I keep my Multigrade working solution.

Steve Roberts · Jan 23, 2009

Even as one usually keen to eke things out well beyond their designed life, I wouldn't use Ilford's (excellent) Multigrade developer anything other than freshly made up. Even keeping it overnight, it loses something and it doesn't cost a fortune, so why potentially sacrifice quality and convenience?

Steve

Wayne · Jan 23, 2009

I found my old Ilfochrome P30 datasheet from some years ago. It says the working solutions keep for 2 months in a full bottle. So really the question boils down to, why does one Ilford PQ working solution keep for 60 days and the other for just 1?

PhotoJim · Jan 23, 2009

What are the chemical concentrations?

It might be that Ilfochrome P30 is much more concentrated, even as a working solution. That would increase its shelf life noticeably.

It could also be that for Ilfochrome processing purposes, it doesn't matter as much if the developer is at full efficacy.

I just know that, for traditional black and white prints, any time I've been frugal and tried to keep Multigrade working solution, I've been disappointed. The reduction in dmax was obvious.

wogster · Jan 23, 2009

Wayne said:
How long does the working solution last, if unused? Ilford says 1 day which is definitely very wrong. I've used it at least one week out and it was fine.

I would think its pretty similar to their Ilfochrome developer (which is actually what I use it as) and that lasts a lot more than a day too, I think on the order of several weeks.

Yes, I know chemicals are cheap.

Ilford's recommendations are always for the production of the highest quality archival images, made on a consistent basis. So if that's what you want, then follow Ilford's recommendations, if not, then you can ignore the recommendations.

Now the life of paper developer used in trays and used in drums is going to be different, due to air exposure. Developer that has sat all day in a tray has seen a lot of oxygen, where as developer that has been in a bottle and poured into a drum several times has seen considerably less oxygen, so will probably last much longer. Plus if your drum uses only a small portion of the total solution (which most do), then when it's poured back in the bottle it mixes with the remaining solution, becoming partly replenished. Trays tend to use large volumes of solution, so this does not occur. Usually for B&W paper developers they assume trays.

donbga · Jan 24, 2009

wogster said:
Ilford's recommendations are always for the production of the highest quality archival images, made on a consistent basis. So if that's what you want, then follow Ilford's recommendations, if not, then you can ignore the recommendations.

Now the life of paper developer used in trays and used in drums is going to be different, due to air exposure. Developer that has sat all day in a tray has seen a lot of oxygen, where as developer that has been in a bottle and poured into a drum several times has seen considerably less oxygen, so will probably last much longer. Plus if your drum uses only a small portion of the total solution (which most do), then when it's poured back in the bottle it mixes with the remaining solution, becoming partly replenished. Trays tend to use large volumes of solution, so this does not occur. Usually for B&W paper developers they assume trays.

Developer used in drums will be much more oxidized than developer used in trays. If you are using drums to process b&w prints use the developer as a 1 shot. Never pour chemicals back into your stock solutions as this is a great way to contaminate your stock solution(s); an old Fred Picker tip and I abide by it.

Ilford Multigrade Developer life

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