Kodak D16 Developer?

[septim]

In Kodak Chemicals and Formulae (1949) it lists the recipe for Kodak Formula D16 with the description that it is a "Normal tank developer for motion picture positive film" however apart from it being mentioned in passing in one post here on APUG ((there was a url link here which no longer exists)) I have been unable to find any other reference to it either on the internet or in print. As it is not listed in the 1946 Kodak Handbook I am guessing it was introduced around 1948/49 (?)

I am looking for information on this developer relating to what films it was intended for and whether it was a standard negative developer being used for Neg-Pos transfers or if it was for use in a direct reversal process. Other information such as whether it is suitable to use on modern films and what characteristics the developer has/had when used as intended would be appreciated too. Attached is the developer formula from the book.

septim

 

[frobozz]

"Motion picture positive film" usually refers to release print film, the stuff that gets run through the projector. As such it is still a negative process, not a direct positive process. It's the equivalent of paper in traditional still photography. So this formula is likely to be more like a paper developer than a film developer... for whatever that is worth.

Duncan

 

[septim]

"Motion picture positive film" usually refers to release print film, the stuff that gets run through the projector. As such it is still a negative process, not a direct positive process. It's the equivalent of paper in traditional still photography. So this formula is likely to be more like a paper developer than a film developer... for whatever that is worth.

Duncan

It really would have surprised me if it was a reversal process, though there are a lot of guys on here who have forgotten more about analog processes then I will ever know and things can sometimes be suprising...

septim

 

[pdeeh]

The ratio of metol to hydroquinone seems unusual: in the formula given it's roughly ~1:19, (unless there's a misprint).

I think that would make it a rather contrasty developer?

(aren't most "normal" MQ developers in the 1:2 - 1:6 range?)

 

[septim]

The ratio of metol to hydroquinone seems unusual: in the formula given it's roughly ~1:19, (unless there's a misprint).

I think that would make it a rather contrasty developer?

(aren't most "normal" MQ developers in the 1:2 - 1:6 range?)

Aren't motion picture positive stocks purposely low contrast? Wouldn't this defeat the purpose of making the stock low contrast? Also for comparison D76 should be 2:5 ratio of metol to hydroquinone...

septim

 

[pdeeh]

I have no idea about MP stocks. I'm just pointing out something I observed about the formula

 

[Xmas]

google

Kodak_formulary

for wheatstone PDF

today it is a high contrast developer then maybe medium