I am testing Pyrocat HD with Efke, Ilford and Kodak films and looking to those experienced with this developer for some guidance. Here are the details: I am developing 120 film using the 1:1:100 dilution (for silver prints) and developing in a Peterson tank at 20 degrees C with 60 seconds constant agitation for the first minute, then ten seconds for each additional minute thereafter. I am using a water stop and then fixing in TF4, as directed. Wash is based on the Ilford multiple inversion method. Now my question: I am used to non-staining developers and what the resulting negative looks like when dry. I have developed a few rolls already in Pyrocat HD and have noted the slight brown stain. Other than the stain, should the negatives be similar in appearance to film processed in a "conventional" developer? I read in some posts that pyro negatives might look "thin" but the density of the stain makes up for this when printing. My first batch of negatives (Ilford FP4 and Efke 25: 20 degrees C for 11 minutes) look like rolls I have developed before with lots of contrast and clarity (not thin). I don't have a densitometer and want to do this by eye. Thanks for your help!
