Ian C
Allowing Ads
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2009
- Messages
- 1,335
- Format
- Large Format
The following is my way of dealing with dry developers packaged in supposedly “vaporproof” packages that, for unknown reasons, allow atmospheric humidity to enter the package and spoil the developer.
This is discussed in the following discussion linked below that began on July 21, 2025, and has continued into 2026. In one situation, the cause might be an error in the manufacture of the developer. A much more common cause is simply a failure to keep humidity out of the package. That might be due to failed sealing, small cracks, or tears in the packaging due to flexing and folding in handling.
As noted in post #4 in the discussion, Eastman Kodak historically packaged developers in sealed, plated, and coated cans identical those used for coffee and other foodstuffs.
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/dektol-question.214914/
I still have four 5-gallon cans of Dektol I acquired from the University of Michigan Surplus Property sales in Ann Arbor, Michigan as U of M transitioned from darkroom chemicals to digital imaging. I was told that the Dektol was unused stock from the radiology department at the medical school. X-rays are mostly made with digital equipment in this era. Although I can’t see the developer inside the cans, tipping the cans about clearly reveals the sound of the free-flowing developer particles as they move about inside the tipped cans.
https://dispo.umich.edu/
I too had lost developers from envelope packaging that had failed and allowed the developer to absorb atmospheric humidity, spoiling it. Here’s how I deal with it.
For those dry developers that I don’t plan on using immediately, I obtained a supply of quart and smaller sized wide-mouth Ball canning jars used for canning fruits and vegetables. I open the developer and quickly pour the dry developer into a jar using a large funnel to ensure that none of the developer particles contaminates the mouth of the jar (as that could compromise the seal when the lid and compression ring are installed.
Then I install the Plastisol-gasketed lid and tighten the compression ring to form a vaporproof seal. I seal the jar quickly so that the dry chemical is exposed to the room air as little as possible to prevent absorption of water vapor in the air. Since the jar is clear glass, I can see at a glance that the developer hasn’t changed color and remains free flowing. You can also add a packet or two of fresh silica gel desiccant atop the dry developer before sealing the jar.
I haven’t lost any dry developers to humidity entering the jars since I began storing them in this manner. I’ve used this with D76, Microdol-X, Ilford Perceptol, and the developer component of the dry version of C-41 developers.
I have occasionally encountered dry developers that were “pre-spoiled” as I opened the package. In this case, I discard them. This had been a particular problem for me with dry C-41 developers in the past. By using only high-volume-sales dealers, this hasn’t recurred. I presume that this is due to a more rapid turnover of stock. It seems to work to ensure that I receive fresh, usable supplies.
Here is some information about the coatings used on the inside of metal cans to prevent chemical interaction between the contents and metal of the can.
https://foodpackagingforum.org/resources/background-articles/can-coatings#:~:text=Metal food and beverage cans,metal. Epoxy-based can coatings containing
This is discussed in the following discussion linked below that began on July 21, 2025, and has continued into 2026. In one situation, the cause might be an error in the manufacture of the developer. A much more common cause is simply a failure to keep humidity out of the package. That might be due to failed sealing, small cracks, or tears in the packaging due to flexing and folding in handling.
As noted in post #4 in the discussion, Eastman Kodak historically packaged developers in sealed, plated, and coated cans identical those used for coffee and other foodstuffs.
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/dektol-question.214914/
I still have four 5-gallon cans of Dektol I acquired from the University of Michigan Surplus Property sales in Ann Arbor, Michigan as U of M transitioned from darkroom chemicals to digital imaging. I was told that the Dektol was unused stock from the radiology department at the medical school. X-rays are mostly made with digital equipment in this era. Although I can’t see the developer inside the cans, tipping the cans about clearly reveals the sound of the free-flowing developer particles as they move about inside the tipped cans.
https://dispo.umich.edu/
I too had lost developers from envelope packaging that had failed and allowed the developer to absorb atmospheric humidity, spoiling it. Here’s how I deal with it.
For those dry developers that I don’t plan on using immediately, I obtained a supply of quart and smaller sized wide-mouth Ball canning jars used for canning fruits and vegetables. I open the developer and quickly pour the dry developer into a jar using a large funnel to ensure that none of the developer particles contaminates the mouth of the jar (as that could compromise the seal when the lid and compression ring are installed.
Then I install the Plastisol-gasketed lid and tighten the compression ring to form a vaporproof seal. I seal the jar quickly so that the dry chemical is exposed to the room air as little as possible to prevent absorption of water vapor in the air. Since the jar is clear glass, I can see at a glance that the developer hasn’t changed color and remains free flowing. You can also add a packet or two of fresh silica gel desiccant atop the dry developer before sealing the jar.
I haven’t lost any dry developers to humidity entering the jars since I began storing them in this manner. I’ve used this with D76, Microdol-X, Ilford Perceptol, and the developer component of the dry version of C-41 developers.
I have occasionally encountered dry developers that were “pre-spoiled” as I opened the package. In this case, I discard them. This had been a particular problem for me with dry C-41 developers in the past. By using only high-volume-sales dealers, this hasn’t recurred. I presume that this is due to a more rapid turnover of stock. It seems to work to ensure that I receive fresh, usable supplies.
Here is some information about the coatings used on the inside of metal cans to prevent chemical interaction between the contents and metal of the can.
https://foodpackagingforum.org/resources/background-articles/can-coatings#:~:text=Metal food and beverage cans,metal. Epoxy-based can coatings containing
Last edited: