Ilford paper developers: Multigrade, PQ, Warmtone and Cooltone

Hi folks,

Having recently discovered the joys of Ilford Warmtone FB paper I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on the use of the above with it?

My basic understanding is that Multigrade developer delivers a neutral image tone, whilst PQ and warmtone produce a warmtone, coooltone a cool tone etc. Anyone have any more info. besides this?

So far I have only used Warmtone FB paper with Mulgrade developer and liked the results.

Antonio

I've not seen a great difference between the Multigrade and PQ myself, but your mileage may vary. The Cooltone however does produce noticably cooler tones. I keep prints of the same negative using different developers and papers in a binder so that I can do a side-by-side comparison.

I am using the Multigrade and Cooltone developers primarily right now and I find that you can get good control of toning as well as untoned prints by using the different developers. For example, Cooltone dev on Warmtone paper will tone down the effects of Sepia toning, while Multigrade on the same paper allows for a stronger sepia color. The same goes for Selenium toning. The Cooltone developer appears to retard color changes with Selenium, which may or may not be desireable depending on the print.

These are fairly inexpensive (except for the Cooltone and Warmtone developers) so try them out with quarter sheet prints and compare the results. I like to keep multiple developers on hand for greater control of the end product.

In addition to just one developer, there you can bleach back and redevelop in Cooltone developer to get still different results. Try MGWT developed in Multigrade or Warmtone developer, then dichromate bleach the print and redevelop it in Cooltone developer for even cooler blacks.

- Randy

antielectrons said:

Hi folks,

Having recently discovered the joys of Ilford Warmtone FB paper I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on the use of the above with it?

My basic understanding is that Multigrade developer delivers a neutral image tone, whilst PQ and warmtone produce a warmtone, coooltone a cool tone etc.

Click to expand...

Anyone have any more info. besides this?

So far I have only used Warmtone FB paper with Mulgrade developer and liked the results.

Antonio

Click to expand...

Hi Antonio

Your understanding of the developers is spot on. I have tried most Warmtone developers with your chosen paper, though my preference is for the MG4 in the matt finish, not the warmtone.

The ilford warmtone developer does exactly what it says on the box, and some, and has become my choice for paper developer. What the Ilford Warmtone developer does differently than the others made by Tetenal, Fotospeed etc, is to makes selenium toner more effective, giving me wonderful colour changes when split toning with sepia.

In effect, what the Ilford Warmtone developer has done has turned my favourite paper (MG4 FB Matt) in to a warm tone paper, something that the other developers would not do.

Hope this helps

Regards

Stoo

Thanks for the feedback guys. I think I will now get myself some warmtone and cooltone developers and try for myself. May give MGFB matt a go too.