Selectolsoft?

[ToddB]

Hey guys,

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.

Todd

 

[MattKing]

Here is a thread about alternatives to it: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

It tends to give you less contrasty prints and, in some cases, a different print tone.

 

[garysamson]

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.

 

[bvy]

Here is a thread about alternatives to it: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

It tends to give you less contrasty prints and, in some cases, a different print tone.

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.

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

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.

 

[RPC]

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).

 

[pgomena]

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.)