Question About Kodak D-19

I just mixed up a gallon of D-19 from a very old package of powder. The powder, although dry, was brown. The subsequent developer is also brown like molasses. Is this normal? I'm using it with some old Kodalith Ortho film 6556 Type 3.

No, it has oxidized. If it is as brown as you say toss it and get fresh.

It sounds ugly, but it could work well enough for your purposes. Just do a simple test to see if it's good or not.

Its really not a matter of its working. Developers in this condition can cause staining and mottling. Developer is cheap when you compare it to film, paper and your time and effort.

...hence the test.

Sheesh!

I decided to dump it. I have the raw chemicals to make up a fresh batch, which will serve my immediate needs. I did develop 2 rolls in Rodinal (Blazinal) 1 + 100 stand developed--one for 25 min. and the other for 45 min. Next step is to make a few prints and adjust as necessary. Thanks everyone for your quick input. I was in the darkroom when I posted the question and made the decision during the session with your collective input. What did we ever do before APUG and the internet?!?!

APUGuser19 said:

We had more products than you could ever decide on and more excellent books on how to use them, all sitting there for the purchase in most any camera store. And that beats the internet and the few remaining products hands down. I'd gladly give up the computer and every other gadget with that technology to return to those times.

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Ditto

Don't forget all the photo magazines which were a source of inspiration.

I am of the opinion that you really can't learn printing from the web due to the really poor resolution of computer screens. You need to see real prints by masters of the printing craft. I mean silver-gelatin prints and not the other junk.

and before the advent of the internet, did people who were learning to print see many of those amazing prints by the "masters" as part of their learning?

Or were they reading books about it with very average to poor reproductions and seeing the occasional well-made print at their local camera club?

By "they" I mean the 10s or 100s of thousands of ordinary Joes and Janes knocking out a few 5x7s in their bathroom in the evenings, not the small handfuls of really gifted amateurs and professionals.

The reason I ask is because I think there is a persistent myth of a "golden age before the internet" in which everyone was a competent photographer and everyone aspired to be a master printer, whereas the fact is that information has never been so easily available for assisting learning as it is now, and photography is more accessible to more people than it ever was.

The fact that you might see more dross now is simply because it's not buried in albums and shoeboxes.

I've learned an incalculable amount about photochemistry from Gerald and PE amongst others. 20 years ago I'd never have known of their existence, let alone be able to ask them questions.

It really is time to move on. And I say this as someone who grew up, well into his early-mid years, through the "pre digital" age.


NOTE Apologies to the OP for assisting in the wildly off-at-a-tangent derail of the thread.

pdeeh said:

and before the advent of the internet, did people who were learning to print see many of those amazing prints by the "masters" as part of their learning?

Or were they reading books about it with very average to poor reproductions and seeing the occasional well-made print at their local camera club? ...

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Same as today the normal (for some only) way to see a good print is to go to an exhibition - nothing has changed.

Without the internet, I might have gathered as much info as I could/did now - but no way could I have done in the short time as of now.
Also, one of the benefits of the internet is that you get access to the minority opinion -which is quite useful if you want to try something new.
I have personally that beneficial and in action.
And no, I doubt any author or set of authors could claim to show you this many disparate opinions, experiences in one place.
The sheer expanse of it would be staggering.

/One more in the off-topic bit. Sorry, OP.

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I have been fortunate to have lived in college towns for most of my adult life. When I was an under-graduate at the University of Florida Jerry Uelsmann was an instructor. So I have had the pleasure of seeing many fine prints. In any city of moderate size there are frequently photo exhibiions and there are always the galleries. There is no real substitute for the real thing. This is where one gets an appreciation of such things as tonality in a print. So when the opportunity presents itself do go to exhibitions. You will become a better photographer for the effort.