I remember in school we used Selectolsoft developer.. Is it use in tadem with Dektol? Can be used by itself. Remind me what it is and the benefit if any.
Ansel Adams writes about split development in the "Print" book. Selectol Soft for the first developer and Dektol for the second developer to achieve intermediate grades with graded paper.
A couple weeks ago, I ordered a liter of Centrobrom S from Freestyle, which is listed as one of the alternatives. I'm only using it to develop lith film at this point, but it's only a matter of time before I try it on paper.
Selectol-Soft was a lower contrast developer, and a warm-tone developer. Kodak, long ago, made a Selectol (not soft) that was a normal-contrast warmtone developer. Freestyle sells their own version of Selectol-Soft.
Selectol, and Selectol-Soft, when used with warm-tone papers such as Kodak Ektalure (long gone), gave beautiful brownish tones. But I imagine it can be achieved with today's materials as well (without toning).
Photographers Formulary also makes a selectol-soft substitute. It is a lower-contrast developer, and I found it works really well with Harman Direct Positive Paper (may it rest in peace and then return from the grave.)