Mixing developing solutions while processing

[photomem]

I just finished re-reading "The Print." I tried an experiment where I mixed Dektol and Selectol-Soft at a ratio of roughly 60% dektol to 40% selectol. The results were quite nice. I used a portrait I had taken that had a very nice bokeh around it. In straight dektol, the bokeh came up as high contrast as the subject. With the blend, the subject was clear, maybe a couple of softened edges, but the bokeh was gorgeous! I am curious if someone can help me understand what changed in the developing process with the mixture of these two old work-horses?

 

[Mike Wilde]

Well mixing the selectol soft (metol only developing agent, lower carbonate alkali rate as well I think) with the dektol cut the ratio of hydroquinone to metol, since dektol has both HQ and metol. The HQ is super additive to the metol ie both develop faster together than either one on its own.

Fo a real treat, develop two bath in dilute selectol soft first , say 1:1 2' at 20C, then second bath of dektol 1:3, at perhaps 10 to 20 seconds depending on how much you want of the blacks. Do in the other sequence and you need a good rinse or you carry the HQ in the dektol into the sotectol and the soft goes away quickly.