Phenosafranine

[bogeyes]

Found an old film developer formula with Phenosafranine in it. Can anyone tell me if phenosafranine is an old name for phenidone perhaps? No, then what is it and whats it used for?

Solution A
water @ 125f 350ml
hydroquinone 32g
sodium sulphite anhydrous 25g
phenosafranine 1 : 1000 solution 5ml
potassium bromide 0.5g
cold water to make 500ml

solution B
cold water 350ml
potassium hydroxide 50g
sodium sulphite anhydrous 25g
potassium bromide 0.5g
cold water to make 500ml

 

[Mateo]

Nope, it's not phenidone, it's a desensitizing dye I think. The sort you would use to make it so that you can develop your film by inspection.

 

[Jordan]

Yup, it's a sensitizing dye. Just checked it in the Merck Index.

 

[df cardwell]

Phenosafranine is about the last readily available desensitizer on the market. A VERY good ready made desenitizer is available from ANTEC, Inc ( Louisville, Ky ).

http://www.kyantec.com/photographic.htm

Phenosafranine is (was) used both as a developer additive ( works in many but not all developers ) or as a forebath. Your formulae is adding it to the developer, for inspection.

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