Print Developers without Hydroquinone

Ben Taylor · Mar 16, 2006

Hi,

I've recently been experimenting with the Sabatier Effect, aka Solarization (with some mixed success). I started of experimenting with the new Ilford Warmtone developer, with little success. After reading Edwin Buffaloe's excellent article on UnblinkingEye I realised the the problem was the Hydroquinone.

I've been using Agfa Neutol+ as the only developer I've had to hand which doesn't contain Hydroquinone (in fact I'm using a two step process, the second with added potassium bromide to help create a duo tone effect when I come to tone the image).

I've just run out of Neutol+, before I put in an order for some more I wondered if anyone knows of any other commercially available developers without Hydroquinone? At some point in the future I'll look at mixing my own, but I'm not really setup for that yet.

Thanks,

Ben.

Wayne · Mar 16, 2006

I believe Kodak Selectol-Soft is without HQ. I was experimenting with Sabatier in Ansco 130 homebrew the other night and it was pretty inneffective until I used it without the HQ.

df cardwell · Mar 16, 2006

Making up the ansco 120 ( selectol soft, agfa 120, or any of the other identical metol / carbonate variations ) is cheap and easy, and better than any bottle developers.

You may add glycin to increase the contrast.

d

srs5694 · Mar 16, 2006

When you do get around to mixing your own, Ryuji Suzuki's DS-14 and DS-15 are hydroquinone-free print developers, as is Chris Patton's E-72. I've used all three with good results, and DS-14 is currently my standard print developer.

Ryuji · Mar 16, 2006

Ben Taylor said:
I've just run out of Neutol+, before I put in an order for some more I wondered if anyone knows of any other commercially available developers without Hydroquinone?

Since DS-14 got mentioned... I'm using this stuff a lot and I've been looking for a commercial manufacturer for the latest version in 10x concentration, so that I can buy it off the web when I need it... (I'm shifting my focus to emulsion making, and I also want to spend more time for exhibiting my work as well.)

I've been using ascorbates for years so developers free of hydroquinone (or any hydroxybenzenes) are nothing special to me, but I just realized that, when Neutol Plus is gone, there is no more ascorbate based print developer on market.

Ben Taylor · Mar 17, 2006

Thanks for the replies and advice.

For now I've put in an order for some Neutol+, interestingly I was told that a couple of suppliers (in the UK) had to group together to place a large bulk order otherwise Agfa (or A&O now I suppose) would not produce it.

I guess it's time I got my self a set of scales and a copy of the Darkroom Cookbook...

Ben.

SilverCat · Mar 17, 2006

This is a link to Dr. William Jolly's online book, "Solarization Demystified".

http://www.cchem.berkeley.edu/~wljeme/SOUTLINE.html

The first chapter includes the following formulation for a solarizing developer.

Dr. Jolly's Solarol Substitute

Metol 12.0 g
Sodium sulfite, anhydrous 37.6 g
Sodium carbonate monohydrate 41.0 g
Sodium bromide 4.8 g

Dissolve chemicals, in the order given,
in about 850 ml of water at room temperature,
and then dilute to 1 liter. For solarization
of enlarging papers, dilute with an equal volume
of water and use at 16-18C.

You might consider using it rather than acquiring a limited
supply of chemicals that may not be available in the future.

Gerald Koch · Mar 17, 2006

Dr. Jolly is a well known chemist. Years ago I took a course in inorganic synthesis taught from his book on the subject.

Print Developers without Hydroquinone

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