It's Time For... Name That Developer!

Snapshot · Aug 28, 2007

Hi All,

I came across a B&W developer formula a while back and I have been experimenting with it for a while, mostly with APX. I can't remember where it came from but it produces contrasty, sharp negatives with fine grain, although not as fine as XTOL. I use D-76 1+1 times for development, although it may be slightly longer than it needs to be.

The formula is as follows:

Water.............................750ml
Sodium Sulphite, (anhy).....60.0g
Ascorbic Acid...................15.0g
Phenidone........................0.45 g
Triethanolamine.................90ml
Water to make..................1,000ml

Recommended Dilution: 1+9

It appears to be a PC-TEA derivative but it's unlike anything that I can recall. Tentatively, I've designated it as TDX-1 (TEA Developer Experimental) but I want to know what developer it is as I actually like how the negatives turn out. Any help would be appreciated.

Jordan · Aug 28, 2007

I've never seen that formula either. The ingredients are the same as the stuff I call "Instant MYTOL" (see http://www.photosensitive.ca/wp/easy-film-developers/) but the quantities of ascorbic acid, phenidone and TEA are much higher. A 1+9 dilution of that soup would have a working phenidone concentration around the same as that of XTOL 1+3, IIRC.

It differs from PC-TEA in that it has that 60 g/L of sodium sulfite in it (which tends to affect the pH as well as film grain).

Let us know how you get on with it, long-term.

Snapshot · Aug 28, 2007

Jordan said:
I've never seen that formula either. The ingredients are the same as the stuff I call "Instant MYTOL"...

Yes, it does appear to share the same ingredients but in different concentrations. Ostensibly, it will perform differently but how is the real question. I'll definitely keep using it as it seems to show promise.

JPD · Aug 28, 2007

If you don't find the right name, you could have called it "Mac-Coffee", but then there are some developers containing real coffee...

Removed Account · Aug 29, 2007

There are developers with coffee in them? I guess the caffeine means you can agitate less, because of developer activity!

Seriously though, do tell! ...I am off to GOOGLE!!!

- Justin

Akki14 · Aug 29, 2007

Coffee developers tend to be staining (unless you add vitamin c) and pull developers and they take forever (30minutes at least) to develop film. It's a neat trick but I'm not sure I'd like to use it all the time. Basic recipe is just instant coffee, washing soda (calcium carbonate), and water and the starting amounts are on digitaltruth's technical data section.

titrisol · Aug 29, 2007

Coffee makes a decent developer, a couple of years ago there was a good buzz (pun) here due to it.

Donald Qualls has published some stuff in Caffenol/Folgernol, and also there is an article in the staining-developers section of the recipes here.

Snapshot · Aug 29, 2007

I guess that I'll play around with the developer until I find out who formulated it.

JPD · Aug 29, 2007

I hope you got my pun. PC-TEA and Mac-Coffee. It didn't contribute much to the discussion, but I think cafeharrar is in the kitchen at the moment, developing film. :munch:

Snapshot · Aug 29, 2007

JPD said:
I hope you got my pun. PC-TEA and Mac-Coffee. It didn't contribute much to the discussion, but I think cafeharrar is in the kitchen at the moment, developing film. :munch:

Yes, I did get the pun. However, I though Mac users would favour TEA over coffee.

Removed Account · Aug 29, 2007

Oh I will be, JPD, I will be. Just have to figure out what to do for the half-hour dev time as I can't open the door without flooding the room with light! I am thinking a series of coffee related shots, developed in coffee, and printed on paper, again developed in coffee... NOBODY STEAL THAT! Next thing I know someone will give an example of it being done before... :rolleyes:

And, just because this smiley kills me every time... :munch:

- Justin

gainer · Aug 29, 2007

Akki14 said:
Coffee developers tend to be staining (unless you add vitamin c) and pull developers and they take forever (30minutes at least) to develop film. It's a neat trick but I'm not sure I'd like to use it all the time. Basic recipe is just instant coffee, washing soda (calcium carbonate), and water and the starting amounts are on digitaltruth's technical data section.

Washing soda is sodium carbonate with a bunch of water of crystallization. Calcium carbonate is limestone which would probably work as filler to take up airspace in a developer bottle, or to pave your driveway. Just a slip of the periodic table, I expect.

Akki14 · Aug 29, 2007

gainer said:
Washing soda is sodium carbonate with a bunch of water of crystallization. Calcium carbonate is limestone which would probably work as filler to take up airspace in a developer bottle, or to pave your driveway. Just a slip of the periodic table, I expect.

Sorry, I forgot exactly what it was. I knew it wasn't Bicarbonate so I was concentrating too much on not typing that.

craigclu · Jan 20, 2008

Did you ever get anywhere with testing this?

Snapshot · Jan 21, 2008

craigclu said:
Did you ever get anywhere with testing this?

Hi Craig,

I did manage to play around with it and it does give decent negatives, similar to XTOL at 1+1 dilution. It also seems to be well buffered but for practical purposes, it isn't any better than XTOL except it is a little sharper. However, it lasts for at least 3 months in stock solution form without significant degradation.

BobNewYork · Jan 21, 2008

I have a serious affliction which has been triggered by this thread. Just stop it guys! Please! I have never met a new developer formula that hasn't caused me to drop everything and try it! I gotta get out and take real photographs!!!!! (Right after I mix me a batch of this here XtolXtra and try a few films in it!!!)

gainer · Jan 21, 2008

Unfortunately, it appears that it's not the caffeine so much as it is the other stuff, so caffeine tablets don't work. Fortunately, if you don't like it photographically, you can still stay awake on the rest of the instant coffee.

It's Time For... Name That Developer!

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