Moersch SE6 developer gritty/blotch results

[cirwin2010]

Wanting to try a new developer I decided to purchase some Moersch SE6 to give a cool tome developer a try. However, the results I got when developing some Fomabrom FB matte paper was unexpected.

The best way I can describe how my test strips turned out was that they looked like a bad lith print. The prints were unevenly developed with a blotchy look and were extremely gritty. It looked awful. The prints developed weird in the tray as well. The blacks developed rapidly where the rest of the print developed much more slowly. Almost looked like the infectious development you would get with lith.

Wanting see if this was a universal problem I developed some Fomatone MG Classic paper. Those prints came out normal to my surprise. Infact, I think this combination looks great!

My sample size of testing so far are just these two papers. I have no idea if Fomabrom just happens to be allergic to SE6 or if other papers will have a similar issue. Has anyone experienced something like this before?

 

[otto.f]

I don’t have the relevant experience, but knowing Moersch and his products as reliable, I think it’s the interaction of this specific matte paper with SE6. Did you try this paper with other, more mainstream developers?

 

[AgX]

The prints developed weird in the tray as well.

Thus the other prints you developed in a tank?

 

[bdial]

I've not had any problems with SE6 and the papers I've used it with, which are mostly Ilford Multigrade. Is your Fomabrom fresh? I had results that were somewhat similar to what you describe using some very old Kodak Polycontrast someone gave me. I don't remember what developer I was using with it, though, probably Ilford.

 

[cirwin2010]

I don’t have the relevant experience, but knowing Moersch and his products as reliable, I think it’s the interaction of this specific matte paper with SE6. Did you try this paper with other, more mainstream developers?

Yes, the paper develops just fine in Liquidol.

 

[cirwin2010]

Thus the other prints you developed in a tank?

I developed everything in trays. Maybe my wording was confusing, but I meant it visually developed weird.

 

[cirwin2010]

I've not had any problems with SE6 and the papers I've used it with, which are mostly Ilford Multigrade. Is your Fomabrom fresh? I had results that were somewhat similar to what you describe using some very old Kodak Polycontrast someone gave me. I don't remember what developer I was using with it, though, probably Ilford.

The paper should be fresh enough at less than a year old. It developed fine in liquidol last time a used it back in December. I will have to try the SE6 with other papers, but I had to call it quits before I proceeded last night.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

SE6 developer does that with a number of papers. The worst are RC. The best (sadly, given its "suspended production" status), i.e. least "micro-mottle" effect, is MCC 110.

I suspect, but have not established via scientific experiment, that the phenomenon is related to a high level of restrainer in SE6 developer.

 

[cirwin2010]

SE6 developer does that with a number of papers. The worst are RC. The best (sadly, given its "suspended production" status), i.e. least "micro-mottle" effect, is MCC 110.

I suspect, but have not established via scientific experiment, that the phenomenon is related to a high level of restrainer in SE6 developer.

I have some Moersch Finisher Blue that I have yet to try. Being a bentotriazole additive, if the problem is related to high level of restrainer, I wonder if this would worsen paper compatibility.

 

[AgX]

Wanting see if this was a universal problem I developed some Fomatone MG Classic paper. Those prints came out normal to my surprise. Infact, I think this combination looks great!

And on the Moersch site there is a example of Fomabrom Variant III.