Lauder vs dektol

[Shelly]

I am just setting up my darkroom. I purchased lauder chemicals. At the darkroom at a campus in oakland they use dektol. What are the advantages of either. I also saw somewhere that ansel adams prevered dektol mixed with a softer developer such as sektol (hope I remember that right). Any feed back is appreciated.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've never tried the Lauder chemistry, but Dektol is pretty standard stuff, so even if you eventually decide you like something else, it would be good to know what Dektol looks like. Why did you choose Lauder?

 

[Donald Miller]

000

 

[Alex Hawley]

Dektol is pretty much the "Old Standard", universal, all-purpose, ect. Don't know anything about Lauder chemicals.

Using both Dektol and Selectol-Soft is a common technique. It can be done by combining the two in some proportion to each other in the same tray, or by using them in separate trays. When used seperately, the paper is typically started in the Selectol tray until the highlight detail is developed, then shifted over to the Dektol tray to complete development.

Bottom line: Start with any of the regular standard developers. Once you start gaining some experience, then start getting sophisticated by trying other developers/combinations/dilutions.

 

[Shelly]

Thanks to all of you for your replies. I am so glad I have found this website, especially now when I am taking all of my photography to new levels!

 

[Aggie]

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