Modifying Paper developer for contrast

I really like graded papers. Can commercial developers (I especially like Ilfords WT paper developer) modified for softer or harder working without losing tonality ?

thx, Marc

By tonality you mean color? Because changing the contrast is the same as changing the tonality.

I’m not sure if this is part of the answer you are after. You can raise contrast with most developers simply by underexposing slightly and prolonging development and/or using a higher concentrate.

Similarly you can lessen contrast by overexposing and under developing.

However, these techniques do alter the tone of the paper, at least when using Emax and Dektol in my darkroom.

I find that these techniques work fairly well, but I do plan to try Beers two-bath developer somewhere down the line and see if it gives me more control.

I suppose that you can add benzotriazole to your developer in order to achieve a cooler tone and add potassium bromide to increase the warmth. I have not tried this in an effort to change the tone of a print myself (just in an effort to save box of old and fogged Agfa paper).

Increasing or decreasing the contrast is adjusting the tonal range which iis the tonality. You mean without affecting the image colour and thats quite difficult.

Increasing the contrast will produce colder tones, decreasing the contrast gives warmer tones. If you read the article on (there was a url link here which no longer exists) you can see how developers can be adjusted.

Sometimes it's better to use a harder grade and decrease the contrast by exposure & development rather than try and increase the contrast of a softer grade, this retains maximum warmth of the paper.

Ian

FOr sure you can usig pure developer or more dilute developer may help to change the contrast, it may also play on the color of the pritn for some warm tone paper.

grade paper contrast

Mark - I use Dr Beers variable contrast develpoer with grade paper - have been for years. You mix an a and b stock solution. The working solution is made by varying the proportions of a and b and water. You can go up or down about 3/4 of a grade in 1/4 grade increments. If it was good enough for Ansel, it's good enough for me.
Tim

climbabout said:

Mark - I use Dr Beers variable contrast develpoer with grade paper - have been for years. You mix an a and b stock solution. The working solution is made by varying the proportions of a and b and water. You can go up or down about 3/4 of a grade in 1/4 grade increments. If it was good enough for Ansel, it's good enough for me.
Tim

Click to expand...

Yes but Adams never used warm tone papers, he disliked them

nze said:

FOr sure you can usig pure developer or more dilute developer may help to change the contrast, it may also play on the color of the pritn for some warm tone paper.

Click to expand...

Changing developer dilution also affects the warmth of a warm-tone paper.

It's a Catch 22 situation, you really have to build up a wealth of experience to get the best out of a paper range.

Ian

What I have to say may be irrelevant to what you want to know but have a lool at Tim Rudman's book The Photographer's Master Printing Course where he describes "pre-development bleaching for graded paper. He gives examples of changing grade 5 paper into other grades. It is amazing. If you are a graded paper user, the book is worth purchasing for this alone.

I have read the book again in the last few days. As good as it was on the first read, it has amazing gems of knowledge that only begin to reveal themselves after several readings.

pentaxuser

Marc Leest said:

I really like graded papers. Can commercial developers
(I especially like Ilfords WT paper developer) modified for
softer or harder working without losing tonality ? Marc

Click to expand...

There are two commercial contrast control developers
that I know of; Edwal TST, and Beer's. The later from
Photographer's Formulary. A third might be Adam's
Ansco 130; also at PF. All three depend upon the
presence of hydroquinone, the amount present
and how activated it may be.

I've worked with Beer's. Of the few papers I've printed
using the Beer's combination I've noticed marked
changes in contrast. Dan

IIRC adding carbonate increases contrast due to the extra alkalinity and adding borax reduces it.