M&P's amidol for enlarging paper and kentmere VC

[michael9793]

I have been using this formula on Ilford paper for a couple of months and have been getting great results. Yesterday I tried using it with Kentmere VC paper and found that the developer is way too slow to use with a enlarger VC lighting. it is taking me 150 to 200 seconds to expose the prints to get an image. once I got a image they were good but I believe the developer is to slow for this paper. I empty the tray, refilled the tray with artisa cold tone developer at a 1:14 ratio. exposures dropped to 16-22 sec. I'm not too sure why but the mixture was correct. Just thought I would pass this on.

mike

 

[Alex Hawley]

Very strange Michael. I have used Smith's enlarging amidol formula on several VC papers and never had a problem with needing extended exposure. Papers I've used it on include Ilford MG IV and Warmtone, Kodak Polymax Fine art, Adox VC, J&C Polywarmtone, and the Adorama brand VC. Don't know what to say, but it seems something went askew for you somewhere.

 

[Richard Wasserman]

Michael,

I don't understand either. I just used Smith's enlarging Amidol formula on Forte Polygrade yesterday and it worked very well. I can't imagine Kentmere being much different, it's actually a somewhat faster paper. Are you absolutely sure you mixed it correctly?

Richard Wasserman

 

[Donald Miller]

I have had extreme problems with fog on paper with the Smith formula for enlarging paper. The paper is of recent vintage so that is not the problem and yes I did mix it properly.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

You might just have to adjust the restrainer and development time with any given paper. Some papers just seem more fog prone than others even when fresh.

If you need really long exposures, try cutting down the benzotriazole and KBr.

If you are getting fog, try increasing the benzotriazole and/or KBr and decreasing development time and increasing exposure.

 

[michael9793]

You might just have to adjust the restrainer and development time with any given paper. Some papers just seem more fog prone than others even when fresh.

If you need really long exposures, try cutting down the benzotriazole and KBr.

If you are getting fog, try increasing the benzotriazole and/or KBr and decreasing development time and increasing exposure.

I have mixed that alot and never had any problems. I kind of like this mix for my Azo also. I think it gives me a deeper black than the regular amidol developer. I will watch my KBr next time and see if that could have changed the characteristics of the developer. Maybe I did add enough and didn't realize it.