Looking for cheap, simple print developer

Sometimes I have odd ideas that I would like to test - which leads me to needing to make test prints. I am not looking for fine art - just a starter to see if an idea will work at all. I don't want to mix a tray of Amidol developer or buy any Dektol.

Is there a simple, quick, cheap print developer that could be mixed a tray at a time? I see an old post where dancqu mentions using D-23 with some added sodium carbonate. That's the kind of thing I'm looking for. Any ideas?
juan

Try Liquidol from the Photographers Formulary. It can be mixed in any size just by diluting the concentrate, and it works just like Dektol. It keeps well in the tray and can be used for hours or days depending on the amount you mix.

PE

I mix a gallon of Dektol and keep in in a wine pouch. The requirement for a wine pouch --oxygen barrier-- is the same as for keeping a developer. I use only as little as I need: these days 20cc + 100cc water for redevelopment in intensification tests, maybe next week 500cc + 1000cc to develop some prints. And the cost of one packet of Dektol is probably less than the up-front cost of buying chemicals to mix your own. In the long run it may be a different story, different from your present stated goal.

nothing wrong with dektol stock--i keep it for months in a brown jug in the darkroom, never had it go bad before i finished with it.

Why complicate your life?

PE is correct

Photo Engineer said:

Try Liquidol from the Photographers Formulary. It can be mixed in any size just by diluting the concentrate, and it works just like Dektol. It keeps well in the tray and can be used for hours or days depending on the amount you mix.

PE

Click to expand...

I've used it and it's a very good developer. If I have a short print session, I just pour the used developer in an air tight container and will keep for weeks.

Ethol LPD. You do have to mix an entire batch, but it lasts darn near forever once mixed.

If you mix your own print developer or compare a range of commercial products, you will notice very quickly that the result does not depend much on the recipe. All these "soft working", "hard working", "oh the great tones" developers will give you indistinguishable prints, and even a random concoction won't make much of a difference and as long as you use somewhat modern multigrade paper..

What does this mean in practice?

1. If you have left over B&W film developer, used, overused or whatever, you can use it for a few test prints. If it works too slowly, add Carbonate in 10 g/l increments until it is fast enough for your liking. If it fogs your paper, add Bromide in 1 g/l increments until the fog is gone. Such a brew won't compare to a well designed print developer, but it will work for a few prints.
2. If you want to scratch mix a developer for a few test prints from raw chemicals, start with a gram of Metol, about two to three grams Hydroquinone, a good scoop Sodium Sulfite (10-30 g/l) and a good dose of Carbonate (5-20 g/l). If you prefer Phenidone to Metol, start with 0.1 g/l. Take tiny test clips and check whether they fog, if yes, add Bromide in 1 g/l increments until fog is gone.

Neither of these recipes will give you a long lasting working solution like Liquidol, but they are very cheap&simple, and you can't do much wrong.

juan said:

Sometimes I have odd ideas that I would like to test - which leads me to needing to make test prints. I am not looking for fine art - just a starter to see if an idea will work at all. I don't want to mix a tray of Amidol developer or buy any Dektol.

Is there a simple, quick, cheap print developer that could be mixed a tray at a time? I see an old post where dancqu mentions using D-23 with some added sodium carbonate. That's the kind of thing I'm looking for. Any ideas?
juan

Click to expand...

hey juan!

toffle gets great results with caffenol ( check out his gallery here on apug and his website ) ..

what i do is i have about 2-3L of sumatranol c ( sumatran bean caffenol c )
at a time, i probably put too much vit c and sodium carbonate in it ...
but i always have a jug of ansco 130 lying around ...
i put about 45-50cc / 3L maybe more maybe less
in the caffenol ..
mine lasted 5.5 months, maybe 6months
no replenishment, no worries, film + prints, color+b/w films all in the same 3L

these days i pull about 1L out every month or 2 and add a new L to the seasoned batch ..
simple developer ...

or i just use ansco 130 ( as youknow ) hard to beat it..