Yesterday, I mixed up a batch of E-72 as an alternative to the D-72 that I normally use for B&W paper. This was the first phenidone-based paper developer I've mixed and I added components in the order that the Darkroom Cookbook identifies (phenidone, sodium sulfite, ascorbic acid, etc.), adding a "pinch" of sulfite first as done for MQ developers. Although I was using distilled, boiled (deoxygenated) water, there was a faint but noticable darkening from oxydized developer, I assume, when I added the phenidone, which disappeared immediately upon adding the ascorbic acid.
My first question is: is this normal for phenidone or could there be some other problem? I'm headed into the darkroom to test the developer now, but thought I'd check to see if anyone has any input.
My first question is: is this normal for phenidone or could there be some other problem? I'm headed into the darkroom to test the developer now, but thought I'd check to see if anyone has any input.