Sandy Kings p-Aminophenol version of Pyrocat - My initial Beta Testing Results

[Silverpixels5]

The B+F numbers are quite similar to what I get in Visual mode with FP4+. But just curious, did you use the restrainer or leave it out? I am getting the same very low B+F without the restrainer and am probably going to recommend just leaving it out unless I find some advantage to it with traditional films.

There should be very little difference between the use of sodium metabisulfite and sodium bisulfite. In fact, most sodium bisulfite sold for photographic purposes is probably mostly metabisulfite anyway.

Sandy

Sandy:

No restrainer was used.

 

[sanking]

Sandy:

No restrainer was used.

Thanks. Based on your comments and those of many of the beta testers I am going to nix the restrainer with Pyrocat-P.

Now, any thoughts on Pyrocat-M?

Best,

Sandy

 

[Gerald Koch]

Just as further re-inforcement of your decision, paraminophenol produces the lowest amount of fog of any of the commonly available developing agents.

 

[Bruce Osgood]

Thanks. Based on your comments and those of many of the beta testers I am going to nix the restrainer with Pyrocat-P.

Now, any thoughts on Pyrocat-M?

Best,

Sandy

Okay! May I ask one favor. Could you print the "Latest & Last" version of the P formula. It's hard for some of us to follow the thread when we are not chemists.
Thanks for you work,

 

[sanking]

Okay! May I ask one favor. Could you print the "Latest & Last" version of the P formula. It's hard for some of us to follow the thread when we are not chemists.
Thanks for you work,

OK, here is the formula again, without the restrainer.

Pyrocat-P
Stock A
Distilled Water at 120ºF 750ml
Sodium Metabisulfite 10.0g
p-Aminophenol 5.0g
Pyrocatechin 50g
Water to 1000ml

(Be sure to add the chemicals in the above order)

The Pyrocat-P stock solution can be mixed in glycol for extended shell life if you like. If you have a hot plate stirrer just heat the glycol to about 200ºF, add the sodium metabisulfite and allow it to dissolve completely. The drop the temperature back down to about 150ºF and add the p-aminophenol and pyrocatechin. They both go into solution very easily.

Alternatively, just heat the glycol to about 150ºF in a water bath. Dissolve the sodium metabisulfite in about 25ml of very hot water and add it to the glycol solution. Then add the p-aminophenol and pyrocatechin directly to the warm glycol.

The sodium metabisulfite functions as a preservative when mixing with water. If mixing with glycol you could leave it out. If you do leave it out, the developer will be slighly less energetic becaue the sulfite ions add some synergism to the formula. On the other hand, the stain will be slighly greater without any sulfite. Do as you will, but just be consistent because there is a nuanced difference with and without the metabisulfite.


Stock B
Distilled Water at Room Temperature 750ml
Potassium Carbonate 750g
Top off if necessary to 1000ml

(Add the potassium carbonate to the water very slowly. The mixing results in an exothermic reaction so don’t be surprised that the solution is pretty warm just after everything dissolves.)

(A sodium carbonate solution of 20% can be substituted for the potassium carbonate if desired. This would require working dilutions of about 5X of Part B compared to potassium carbonate. That is, a 1:1:100 dilution using potassium carbonate would be approximately equivalent to 1part A + 5 parts B + 94 parts water using sodium carbonate. Working characteristics are the same regardless of which carbonate is used.

This developer is well-buffered so don’t hesitate to use it at dilutions other than 1:1:100 or 2:2:100 if your situation requires it.

 

[vet173]

Re: Pyrocat-p



Sandy,

First of all let me thank you for letting me participate in the testing of the developer. My main film is Fp-4, but I also tried it in Acros, tri-x, and T-max. This is the first time I have tried T-max since I gave it a shot when it first came out. Using -P I would say my opinion of it has moved up to I don't care much for it compared to Fp-4. That's up from deciding whether to defile my trashcan with it. With Fp-4 as a base, I have observed noticeable but not dramatic differences. For the same developing procedure I find –P builds more density than –HD. For me dropping my developing 1.5:1:200 time from 23 min semi stand for –HD, to 20 min for- P made them equal.( negs keyed to Azo ) Comparing the two, they are very close. But each has it’s own flavor so to speak. I could be very happy with either one.

As far as grain, it’s a little different also, I put a 4x5 Fp-4 neg in my 8x10 Salsman enlarger and put an 80mm lens under it. I was able to get about a 15X magnification. Even then grain was hardly noticeable. With my peak1 grain focuser I was able to see the grain structure. Edge definition, is so close, decisions on differences would be subjective on the part of the viewer. I would say that grain structure is the biggest of the very small differences. Viewing thru the peak grain focuser –HD structure has a pattern similar to reticulation in the emulsion. This is not unusual. -P had a lot less of that pattern and not large but noticeable increase in the coarseness in the grain. A little more of a sharper grit to it so to speak. I find this a positive. Remember, this is looking at a 15X enlargement with a grain focuser. At that enlargement, a print had the grain that would be apparent in say, an 8x10 print from 35mm 200 asa in d-76. Less than would be observed with tri-x 35mmm to 8x10 print.. It’s the first time with pyrocat that I haven’t had to use my grain focuser as an image focuser. Then again I haven’t gone under 4x5 with it.


I am now in the process of working up a developing time for my 4x5 condencer enlarger.


What’s the biggest difference in -P over –HD? I no longer have to threaten, bribe, or otherwise cajole, the phenidone to go into solution. This, more than anything else has influenced my decision to make –P my new standard.

I have included a sample shot out my front door on Fp-4.



I’ll be mailing you some examples of the results.

Thanks,
John Berry

 

[vet173]

I forgot to add the lens was a 210 macro sironar

 

[sanking]

John,

Thank you for posting your comparison of Pyrocat-HD. I am very pleased to hear that your experience with it has been so positive. Your comments about the grain are particulary interesting and are very much in line with what two of the other beta testers have told me in private messages.

It seems that everyone who has gotten back to me so so far has been testing with minimal agitation procedures, so it looks like I still have some close testing to do myself to compare Pyrocat-P with -HD with constant rotary agitation.

Sandy

 

[vet173]

I forgot to mention I also noticed the blue-purple color. When I saw it turn amber I thought it had a problem and threw it out first time. It will turn on it's own after a couple of minutes. The amber color is nothing to worry about. It still works fine.