Paper Developer Chemicals, Which Ones?

[jaydebruyne]

I'd recommend Tim Rudman's The Photographer's Master Printing Course and Les McLean's Creative B&W Photography.

I'm 'watching' both of these on eBay for auction. Thanks for the recommendation

 

[pdeeh]

keep an eye open in your local charity shops. i found rudman's printing course and his lith book in oxfam shops for about a 1/10 of the silly prices they sometimes go for on eBay

 

[jaydebruyne]

keep an eye open in your local charity shops. i found rudman's printing course and his lith book in oxfam shops for about a 1/10 of the silly prices they sometimes go for on eBay

Oh cool, I didn't think of looking in charity shops! Cheers

 

[jaydebruyne]

I just got Les McLean's book for £0.01 on Amazon! Bargain!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I just got Les McLean's book for £0.01 on Amazon! Bargain!

whosplita a penny.itall goes to Amazon

 

[BradS]

Kodak Dektol, indicator stop bath, rapid fixer, HCA, (plain water) and photoflo 200. Over the years I've learned that re-use of chemistry is false economy. Always use fresh chemistry when printing, only the stop bath can be saved for re-use.

EDIT: my book recommendations:
Henry Horenstien, "Black and White Photography : A Basic Manual"
David Vestal, "The Craft of Photography"
London, Upton and Stone, "Photography"

 

[MattKing]

Kodak Dektol, indicator stop bath, rapid fixer, HCA, (plain water) and photoflo 200. Over the years I've learned that re-use of chemistry is false economy. Always use fresh chemistry when printing, only the stop bath can be saved for re-use.

EDIT: my book recommendations:
Henry Horenstien, "Black and White Photography : A Basic Manual"
David Vestal, "The Craft of Photography"
London, Upton and Stone, "Photography"

Brad:

Did you mean to include Photoflo in this list of print related chemicals?

 

[BradS]

Brad:

Did you mean to include Photoflo in this list of print related chemicals?

Yes, I sometimes use a little Photoflo when making prints too.

 

[jaydebruyne]

Kodak Dektol, indicator stop bath, rapid fixer, HCA, (plain water) and photoflo 200. Over the years I've learned that re-use of chemistry is false economy. Always use fresh chemistry when printing, only the stop bath can be saved for re-use.

EDIT: my book recommendations:
Henry Horenstien, "Black and White Photography : A Basic Manual"
David Vestal, "The Craft of Photography"
London, Upton and Stone, "Photography"

Thanks for the book recommendations, Brad. I'll look them up.

 

[timor]

Very soon I'm going to start printing my own negatives.

I'll be using Ilford multigrade IV Pearl paper printing B&W prints.

I have no clue about which developer, stop and fix to use. I'm assuming they are different to the film development chemicals?

Any pointers would be gratefully received.

Cheers
Jay

I would suggest to use rather liquid form of a developer like Polymax T or something from Ilford. This way you will avoid mixing large quantity of stock solution from powder and problems of storing it. You will mix just what do you need at the moment. With fixers I believe doesn't matter if you will use hardening one or not hardening. Unless you plan to tone your prints. Then non hardening will be better.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I would suggest to use rather liquid form of a developer like Polymax T or something from Ilford. This way you will avoid mixing large quantity of stock solution from powder and problems of storing it. You will mix just what do you need at the moment. With fixers I believe doesn't matter if you will use hardening one or not hardening. Unless you plan to tone your prints. Then non hardening will be better.

non-hardening fixers are preferredas the hardener impedes subsequent washing.

 

[jaydebruyne]

If I'm not done with my print chemicals, can I leave them in the trays overnight and continue using them in the morning (as long as I do not exceed the developers 24hr shelf life of course)?????

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Very soon I'm going to start printing my own negatives.

I'll be using Ilford multigrade IV Pearl paper printing B&W prints.

I have no clue about which developer, stop and fix to use. I'm assuming they are different to the film development chemicals?

Any pointers would be gratefully received.

Cheers
Jay

pretty much any neutral to warm -tone developer will work well.Iused Kodak Dektol and Agfa Neutol with much sucess

 

[Bob Marvin]

"If I'm not done with my print chemicals, can I leave them in the trays overnight and continue using them in the morning"

I float waxed paper on top of the liquid in trays that I want to re-use in gthe morning. It works fine, I've been doing this for years.

 

[jaydebruyne]

"If I'm not done with my print chemicals, can I leave them in the trays overnight and continue using them in the morning"

I float waxed paper on top of the liquid in trays that I want to re-use in gthe morning. It works fine, I've been doing this for years.

You mean like baking paper? I ended up covering the trays with dustbin bags, worked fine for me..