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Mixing Preceptol - Brown?

bvy

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It's been a while since I prepared Perceptol. Part A was kind of brown and chunky (unlike B which has the color and consistency of white sugar). The final stock solution has a brown color to it -- you can see through the bottle, but it does look brown and cloudy. Is this normal? I'll clip test it of course...
 
Part A contains the developing agents. If it is brown then they have oxidized. Toss it.
 
Yeah, past its prime. However, you can use it as a paper dev to get an interesting (highly subjective )brown tint to your prints.
 
I had the same problem with Microphen lately. Two packages ended up brown. The third is very slightly brown but seems to work OK. These were not old, and the packets seemed to be sealed. I haven't contacted Ilford, but wondered if they had a bad batch.
 
Well, that sucks. And I have two more boxes from the same batch. These were just purchased last summer and stored in a relatively cool, dry place in my home, so I'm surprised. The powders are in sealed foil packets, so I wouldn't expect moisture to be an issue (referencing a PM I received). I'm attaching a picture of the stock solution. Thanks for the feedback.
 

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I have found that it is best not to buy more developer than can be used in a reasonable time, say 6 months. Years ago developers were supplied in cans sealed under nitrogen. They kept for decades. Todays bags are somewhat fragile. Always check the bags carefully for any punctures and signs of abuse.
 
Interesting because Ilford says that the dried contents keep "indefinitely." Even so, I don't think a year is unreasonable. I wonder now if they weren't delivered to me in this condition.
 

You can toss it if you want, but by the looks of the bottle in the picture tossing might be a waste of money. If it has just a light tint I'd say you're just fine. If it's headed to coffee-brown it goes down the drain. My Perceptol has a slight pinkish-brown tinge to it and it works just fine. My homemade Perceptol is perfectly clear and it also works fine. Just do a snip test and you'll know for sure. John W
 
jim appleyard said:
Yeah, past its prime. However, you can use it as a paper dev to get an interesting (highly subjective )brown tint to your prints.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I wonder what it is that gives the brown tint when using "past its prime" Perceptol as paper developer. Is this simply a stain effect or does it alter the paper as a sepia toner does

Do you have any examples you could show us?

Thanks

pentaxuser
 

Fine grain developers like Perceptol and Microdol would produce poor results when used as a print developer. The brown color comes from compounds called humic acid formed from oxidized developing agents. The user runs the risk of paper staining. Trying to use oxidized developer is a false economy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humic_acid
 

The Harman / Ilford-Photo developers are packed in fairly robust paper and foil sachets, inside a cardboard box. I think this packaging is far more durable than the typical Kodak polythene bags. In more than thirty-five years (eeek!) of use I have only ever seen one damaged Ilford package, and that was due to a failed heat-seal on one of the inner bags - exchanged by the supplier for another box, as one would expect.

The datasheet from the Ilford-Photo website will give the colour of mixed Perceptol. If it says "light-straw", then the OP is probably not going to have a problem. One hopes that the re-purposed bottle is stored in a clearly marked outer container/tub/tray, ideally under lock-and-key, away from any foodstuffs or drinks containers . . .
 
I only used old, brown devs for fun, never for anything serious. You can get some interesting brown prints, but again, just for fun. Sorry, I have no examples to post. I'm not evern sure if using an old dev would be archival.

False economy? Yes and a short tray life.
 
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