Pyro vs. Ilfotec-HC/HC-110 ...

[Raghu Kuvempunagar]

Pyro means Pyrogallol or so I've been told. Staining developers is a better term for both Pyrogallol and Catechol based developers.

 

[Ian Grant]

Pyro has become used for either Pyrogallol or Pyrocatchenin based developers in recent years, and both have staining and tanning effects.

Ian

 

[KenS]

I 'changed over' to Pyrocat HD in my home darkroom after many years as "Pro" Technical/Scientific(and Board Certified "Biological Photographer) I have found it does not provide the same amount of 'stain' as other iterations of Pyro based developers... but I find that the grain 'edge' is both 'crisp and finer' but much less obvious 'staining' using continuous 'rotation' (in BTZS tubes) in a "Tupperware' waterbath.

Ken

 

[1kgcoffee]

I think it depends on the film. But I have never tried HC so cannot make the comparison.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Call me cynical if you want, but I think the adoption (& often subsequent fetishization of) staining developers by a photographer tends to happen at about the same point that they start exercising greater control over negative exposure & processing, often along with adopting a bigger format. Thus, claims seem to be often attached to staining developers that may be far in excess of their absolute abilities & have more to do with the adoption of basic process controls etc. That's not to say that they have uses, but they're not some sort of panacea for poor basic technique. I think that people should perhaps start from asking themselves 'what does it do that well controlled D-76/ XTOL at 1+1 or greater dilution cannot?'

I can print the same negative processed in Pyrocat-HD in carbon, Kallitype, or silver gelatin. I can't do that with Xtol or any other conventional developer. Also, semi-stand in Pyrocat-HD is superior than any conventional developer that I have used...

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

It's also very economical when mixed from scratch.

 

[KenS]

It's also very economical when mixed from scratch.

Pyrocat HD iS now the only film developer now 'in use' in my basement darkroom... even thought I have Lots of HC110
and D76 I'd be quite happy to 'give away' for the cost of shipping

Ken