Paper Developer Alternative to ILFORD Multigrade

[MattKing]

Don't claim that the items "can't" be shipped

They can't - under the terms that they operate under.
Which relate to the classifications that the products attract, and how those classifications interact with their shipping providers' (ensure lowest cost) terms.
With respect to LPD developer, there is a decent likelihood that the manufacturer can't rationalize the cost of getting the powder developer certified for a different shipping classification - and B&H won't spent the money to do so.

 

[Peter Schrager]

It is very easy to make paper developer. You need only metol, sodium sulphite, hydroquinone, sodium carbonate. and potassium bromide. Here is one of many similar formulas:

Dupont Developer 53-D

A general-purpose developer reproducing neutral black tones on contact and enlarging papers; it may also be used for tray development of sheet films and plates. This formula is similar to, but not identical with, Kodak Developer D-72.

Stock Solution
Water .................... 16 ounces (500cc)
Metol ..................... 45 grains (3.0 g)
sodium sulfite, anhydrous .................... 1.5 ounces ( 45 g)
hydroquinone .......................... 175 grains (12 g)
sodium carbonate, anhydrous .............. 2.25 ounces (67.5g)
potassium bromide ................. 27 grains (1.9 grams)
add cold water to make ................... 32 ounces (1 L)

Dissolve chemicals in the order given.

For paper - dilute one part of stock solution with two parts of water. Develop projection paper for 1.5 to 2.5 minutes at 68F (20C).

55D is interesting because it is unique and not a copy of a Kodak formula as were most Defender developers. It is less active than Dektol but more active than Selectol or other "warm tone" developers. It Should work for any paper.
Defender used to recommend adding lots of bromide to it to warm the results, however, the formula in the Darkroom Cookbook gives the maximum, not the range. I've found this book gets it slightly wrong just a little too often.

From a Defender publication:

Defender 55D
Stock Solution
Water (125F or 52C) 500.0 ml
Metol 2.5 grams
Sodium Sulfite, dessicated 37.5 grams
Hydroquinone 10.0 grams
Sodium Carbonate, anhydrous 37.5 grams (mono 45g)
Potassium Bromide 4 to 13 grams
Water to make 1.0 liter


Defender 54-D
Metol 2.7g
Sodium sulfite (anhy) 40.2 g
Hydroquinone 10.5g
Sodium carbonate (anhy) 75g (mono 90g)
KBr 0.8g
Water to 1 litre

Also look here:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjh_77AyJWEAxX0lYkEHWOmDnQQFnoECDQQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforgottenbooks.com%2Fit%2Fdownload%2FPhotographicFactsandFormulas_10892114.pdf&usg=AOvVaw26oEI954lNAzXo4mDHvJPh&opi=89978449

I add 13 gms of pottasium bromide
Dilute 1:2 for d55 use with foma 131 or 132 and make gorgeous prints!

 

[Augustus Caesar]

I've read that Richard J Henry and David Vestal both diluted Dektol/D-72 1+1 rather than the usual 1+2 dilution.

It probably just shortens development time.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

At this time LPL 1gal packaged powder is not available except at Freestyle where its doubled in price. Bummer as its my favorite developer. LPL has a long range. The tonal shifts may be slight but are welcome.

Working Solution Color Change:

I recently reused LPL developer which had been worked for two sessions, (9) 8x10s developed in 1l. Bottom line my working solution turned a dark amber, a tone darker than Shiner Bock beer. The micro contrast was adversely affected. I was using the same paper and the solution temps the same 20c. Air is introduced into the solution by the transfer back between containers.

A dark amber solution can develop a print but my experience is the print values will not be optimum.

 

[brian steinberger]

A dark amber solution can develop a print but my experience is the print values will not be optimum.

+1. It’s a shame what’s happened to LPD.

 

[Craig]

Does LPD do anything that Bromophen can't? They are both Phenidone/Hydroquinone based developers, so I'm guessing should have similar properties. In Canada anyway, Bromophen is much easier to get and cheaper.

 

[darkroommike]

It probably just shortens development time.

In the old days D-72 had a full range of dilutions for different materials. Moot, since all those materials are gone.

 

[Augustus Caesar]

In the old days D-72 had a full range of dilutions for different materials. Moot, since all those materials are gone.

? We are talking about paper. Changing dilution just speeds up or slows down development.

 

[Roger Cole]

At this time LPL 1gal packaged powder is not available except at Freestyle where its doubled in price. Bummer as its my favorite developer. LPL has a long range. The tonal shifts may be slight but are welcome.

Working Solution Color Change:

I recently reused LPL developer which had been worked for two sessions, (9) 8x10s developed in 1l. Bottom line my working solution turned a dark amber, a tone darker than Shiner Bock beer. The micro contrast was adversely affected. I was using the same paper and the solution temps the same 20c. Air is introduced into the solution by the transfer back between containers.

A dark amber solution can develop a print but my experience is the print values will not be optimum.

That is really really WEIRD. I've kept working strength LPD longer than that and developed far more prints and I've never seen it darken. In fact, I've never seen it darken AT ALL, no matter how much I use it. As it wears out it eventually starts losing a little contrast. I can still make good prints by adjusting paper filter and exposure accordingly but for consistency that's when I toss it.

I prefer the liquid for convenience even if it does cost more but I like to keep an unopened can (now bag I think) of powder as a part of "emergency rations."

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

It probably just shortens development time.

Yes, R J Henry mentioned in his book that he has always diluted Dektol 1+1 but he couldn't remember why.

LPD gets mentioned a lot, but is not available in the UK.

 

[Richard Jepsen]

I recently reused LPL developer which had been worked for two sessions, (9) 8x10s developed in 1l. Bottom line my working solution turned a dark amber, a tone darker than Shiner Bock beer. The micro contrast was adversely affected. I was using the same paper and the solution temps the same 20c. Air is introduced into the solution by the transfer back between containers.

Correction….I can not validate my above statement. That reused developer may not have been the solution worked for two sessions.

I printed this AM and an additional tests did not validate my statement. I don’t want to steer anyone wrong.

 

[revdoc]

? We are talking about paper. Changing dilution just speeds up or slows down development.

It certainly does that, but it's generally known that more dilute print developers can also produce a slightly warmer tone. It's more pronounced with warm tone papers, but I've seen it with more neutral papers as well.

 

[Augustus Caesar]

It certainly does that, but it's generally known that more dilute print developers can also produce a slightly warmer tone. It's more pronounced with warm tone papers, but I've seen it with more neutral papers as well.

Correct.

 

[darkroommike]

? We are talking about paper. Changing dilution just speeds up or slows down development.

Not always, it can also affect contrast, mostly with the old warm tone papers, again moot. The effects are subtle and not worth the effort. D-72 used to be used mostly for things like Lantern Plates and glass plate negatives and there were other more complicated formulas sold for prints, like D-163 (which I tried and meh, results not enough different from D-72 to bother with).

 

[Lachlan Young]

Not always, it can also affect contrast, mostly with the old warm tone papers, again moot. The effects are subtle and not worth the effort. D-72 used to be used mostly for things like Lantern Plates and glass plate negatives and there were other more complicated formulas sold for prints, like D-163 (which I tried and meh, results not enough different from D-72 to bother with).

There was some rather interesting Ilford research that suggested that noticeable warm/cool colour shifts were possible - just not in the ways that various old developer formulae suggested (not surprising given the radical changes in the grain crystal forms).

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

We have always used Ilford MG developer at my school. With 60 kids one 8x10 tray will last me three days but only if I drop some plastic wrap on the surface of the developer to keep air out.

 

[pentaxuser]

We have always used Ilford MG developer at my school. With 60 kids one 8x10 tray will last me three days but only if I drop some plastic wrap on the surface of the developer to keep air out.

That's pretty good. How many prints does 60 kids and 3 days equate to, Andy and do all the kids survive for 3 days as well if they persist in making the kind of comments you referred to in another thread?

pentaxuser

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

That's pretty good. How many prints does 60 kids and 3 days equate to, Andy and do all the kids survive for 3 days as well if they persist in making the kind of comments you referred to in another thread?

pentaxuser

I don't count but there are usually up to 32 students using the darkroom per day. Some are in there just making their contacts which is only 6 to 8 frames. The biggest print they are allowed is 5x7 due to high price of paper and film. When I took over the program, there was a print developing machine where you stick the exposed print in one side, and it came out all processed and dried on the other. How can this be any fun for the student, I though to myself. So, I retired it. They use trays. That is the way it should be. They can actually see the process... and besides, who knows what they'd be shoving in there besides photo paper!