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Paper developing time

JJB

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Location
NJ
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Medium Format
How important is developing time for RC and Fiber papers? Do you adjust the time for different effects? Do you use a timer?

Thanks!
 
I think it's important. You want to be consistent in your processes.
For fiber, my development time is 2 minutes. I only use RC for proofing, but I try to develop those for 1 minute.
I use a timer for both.
 
You use a standard developing time for silver gelatin papers. All controls are at the exposure stage. This is so you develop to completion.

My time is 3 minutes with replenished Ethol LPD developer. I never deviate from this, and have a metronome constantly going during my printing sessions.
The point is to be able to have repeatable results. Just follow the notes you made from the first print you liked from the same negative. This way you can make many prints that look as close to exactly the same as possible.

- Thomas
 
Depends on the type of paper, Bromide papers need full development as the manufacturers recommend, but warm tone bromo-chloride/chloro-bromide can be pushed and pulled in the developer to give significant changes in image colour/tone with experience.

There's a huge amount of control at the development stage with Warm tone papers, but learn the basics first.

Ian
 
I will be on the lookout for a timer to help with this then.

Thanks!
 
When proofing on RC, and printing on Fiber, are there any adjustments that must be made? For the sake of the discussion, lets say I am printing on Ilford MGIV RC, then go to their Fiber paper.

Thanks!
 
hallo

in dektol 1+2 i use 2 min for all
 
Papers essentially develop to completion which means that past a certain point there is little change in contrast or density. Now this doesn't mean you can leave the print in the developer for an extended amount of time. But the worst thing you can do is to pull a print too soon because it is getting too dark. This will lead to mottling and other problems. Since the amount of time in a developer is dependent on temperature a timer is of little use for print development. You need to look at the print and not a timer. BTw, You don't dont want to use a timer -- a simple, essy to read, wall clock with a second hand is all you need. Once you have made a good print you will know the correct time for the current darkroom session. Then just keep developing each print for the same time. After awhile you will become familiiar with a print's appearance vs completion and find that you are no longer need watch the clock.
 
This ONLY applies to bromide papers.

Ian

 
I use a couple of cheapie digital kitchen timers, one for developing and one for fix. Developing times vary by paper manufacturer recommendation. I shoot for 90 seconds for RC and 3 minutes for FB, but these times can be varied for a specific look. Times are also dependent on developer such as Dektol vs Selectol or Selectol soft, etc.
 
When proofing on RC, and printing on Fiber, are there any exposure adjustments that must be made? Say when printing on Ilford MGIV RC, then go to their Fiber paper.

Thanks!
 
'development to completion' is a bit of a myth. As you can see from the attachments, print density increases with development time for all tones except Dmax. For consistency, it is best to terminate the development after a material dependant fixed time (RC) or to control it through factorial development (FB).
 

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JJB said:
I will be on the lookout for a timer to help with this then.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

JJB:

Timers for developing B & W prints are nice, but an analogue clock with a clear face and a sweep second hand works well too.

As long as you standardise on a development time that is reasonably long (a minimum of 1 minute, but I prefer 2) a few seconds either way won't make much difference.

I use a battery powered clock that hangs over my trays. I wait until the second hand reaches the next 1/4 minute, and time from there.

I think I paid $5.00 for my clock.

It also helps to have the time on the clock set to the actual time. Not that I've ever lost track of time in the darkroom .:rolleyes:
 
I have never heard that "development to completion" applied only to bromide papers. Can you supply a reference.

One finds this expression over and over agian in articles on printing.
 
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Gerald C Koch said:
I have never heard that it applied only to bromide papers. Can you supply a reference.
Click to expand...

Any older Kodak, Ilford, Agfa, Gevaert etc handbook has details. It was common practice.

With warm tone papers & warm tone developers all companies suggested varying Exposure & Development to control image colour.

If you develop a Warm tone paper to completion you kill off most of the papers warmth.

Ian
 
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It is so hard to explain things to anybody without drowning in endless details which are secondary to the main point. One runs the danger of hearing, "Is there a caboose on this train of thought?" So I sometimes become fixated on the main portion and don't consider exceptions.

I haven't used warm tone papers/developers in many years finding them rather a bother. Now that you mention it I do remember reading what you say about warm tone developers.

I follow AA in wanting a purely neutral image tone. I think that is what most photographers desire, certainly those new to prnting should strive for this first. Therefore, I missed this subset of printing.
 
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Gerald C Koch said:
I follow AA in wanting a purely neutral image tone. I think that is what most photographers desire, certainly those new to prnting should strive for this first. Therefore, I missed this subset of printing.
Click to expand...

Judging by the number of warm tone papers available the term "most" is rather way off the mark, but sales of warm ton papers are lower, and it's true AA disliked them. But we have to take into account exceptions or people may not get the best out of other materials.

On some B&W printing workshops the first step is demonstrating how exposure/time alters image colour and tone, with warm tone papers.

Ian
 
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What Ian says is quite correct, but there are not many papers that respond in this manner. When you do find one, it is still important to develop the print fully. You balance exposure and development time to get the desired effect.

With most papers, you need to keep your eye on the clock, not the print. You try to develop "to completion." The time depends a bit on both the paper and the developer, but the manufacturer's recommendations are a good starting point. I have found very little, if any, difference between FB and RC papers. With my usual developer (54-D) and routine, it generally runs about 1 minute 50 seconds.
 
It's purely dependent on materials, developer strength and temperature. Just the other night I threw a print into some still lukewarm new Selectol 1+2 and it was fully developed in around 1.5 minutes. By the time I stopped printing a couple of hours later prints were done around in 2.5 minutes. I use an RH Process timer with factorial (factor from 4-6 depending on paper and what I want).

I don't think sticking to a set time is always best unless said set time is long enough to be longer than "completion." It's material and environmentally dependent.
 
nworth said:
... With most papers, you need to keep your eye on the clock, not the print. You try to develop "to completion." The time depends a bit on both the paper and the developer, but the manufacturer's recommendations are a good starting point. ...
Click to expand...

Fully agree!

nworth said:
... I have found very little, if any, difference between FB and RC papers. With my usual developer (54-D) and routine, it generally runs about 1 minute 50 seconds. ...
Click to expand...

That's not my experience but depends on materials. MGIV in Dektol responds as I've shown in the graphs of an earlier post. Quite a difference between RC and FB.
 
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