Photographers Formulary TFX-2

Hi all,

I came into a free supply of this stuff via craigs list. It seems to be a variation on the Crawleys FX-2 theme. I get what the pinacryptol yellow has to do with the formula. The formulary directions call for a minute amt. added to the developer. Anchells book says you can't do this it is destroyed by the sulfite.
So........can one do without the yellow stuff with a funny name? It seems to be a de-sensitizer, so what is its purpose in the developer? And can one do without and simply use a more dilute solution?

I don't recall the directions calling for pinacryptol yellow and have used TFX-2 very successfully without any additives. I think the original FX-2 called for pinacryptol yellow, but part of the Formulary's update of the formula and characteristics of modern film emulsions eliminated the need for it in the formula. Double check with the current directions from the formulary, which are listed online at their website.

Peter Gomena

It's great developer, too, especially for stand or semi-stand work.

Yes, it is! Semi-stand with APX100 is mind-boggling sharp and just plain wonderful in terms of enhanced local contrast.

Peter Gomena

In BJP Jan 6 1961 Geoffrey Crawley wrote:
...FX-2... In this formula,a dye restainer is used to ensure clarity of fine detail. Dye restraint seems often more efficient than bromide in discriminating between exposed and unexposed crystals,i.e. it can give a faintly higher image to fog level;it may also be used to reduce grain clumping in some developers.. .
So it looks like the yellow stuff has similar effect to potassium bromide.
I have never bothered to put it in and FX-2 appears to work perfectly OK without it.