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Should I switch from Dektol to Liquidol?

ntenny

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I'm due for a Formulary order, and it occurred to me that while I'm at it I could pick up a bottle of Liquidol to try out.

My understanding, from what I've read on here, is that Liquidol is intended to be fundamentally similar to Dektol, but a little "better" (mainly in terms of shadow detail, right?) and more convenient because of the liquid form factor. Plus, it has the cachet of being PE's baby.

Does that impression pretty much jibe with people's experience of the developer in use? Any surprises (good or bad) that I should be aware of before deciding to try it out? (I'm a complete novice printer, so minute variations in the results are likely to be wasted on me---I'm mostly looking at the gain in convenience.)

Thanks in advance.

-NT
 
If convenience is what you want, then go liquid. Myself, I try to avoid shipping water and after powder is mixed with water in my darkroom, the liquid loses its advantage.

However, maybe it is better, as you mentioned. Try it and let us know.
 
Formulary"s t-4 and T-5 fixer work really well and PE had a hand in those,would imagine the Developer would be ok also.Give it a try and let us now what you think of it.

Mike
 
Liquidol is an excellent developer, and it has outstanding keeping properties. It not only keeps well in the bottle, but it will last a couple of days (not just one session) as a mixed solution in the tray. It is a cold tone developer. Working properties are very nice. The liquid is handy. It probably will not take much adjustment to switch over from Dektol.
 
RalphLambrecht said:
What does Dektol not have that you're hoping to find in Liquidol? Is there a printing problem in hiding that you are trying to overcome by switching developer?
Click to expand...

No, I think all my printing problems are overt.

Mixing with powdered Dektol is a bit of a pain---it's not extreme, but the dust and the need for hot water are things I'd like to have go away. That's the only real issue, I guess, and it's not much of one; so if someone pops up to say "it's less convenient than it looks because X", or "the convenience is nice, but I found it didn't work for me because Y", that might be enough for me to stick with the old and familiar instead.

-NT
 
I've been using Liquidol for a while now. It works well, doesn't stain my Nova as much as other developers, and lasts forever.
 
Neal said:
Dear Nathan,

If you like Dektol, try Tektol Black from Silvergrain.

Neal Wydra
Click to expand...
Why try it now, its a discontinued item, according to Digital truth. Of course, you could buy up all the remaining stock....
 
It's an excellent product. I've used it myself and it has outstanding tray life. My understanding is that PE has used a little known chemical technique to give this product long life.
 
I am with Ralph, been using Dectol since 1973 and made a few prints with it and been pretty happy.
RalphLambrecht said:
What does Dektol not have that you're hoping to find in Liquidol? Is there a printing problem in hiding that you are trying to overcome by switching developer?
Click to expand...
 
If I had a source for Liquidol that didn't involve shipping, I'd be keen to try it and, if I liked it, support PE and others by using it.

Currently, I use a Kodak product that I really like - Polymax-T (Liquid Dektol in some markets). It is liquid and comes in one US quart bottles. You mix it one part concentrate to nine parts water, and I like the results.
I can buy Polymax off the shelf at Glazer's in Seattle. In the past, I've been able to buy it in Vancouver as well, but I haven't seen it locally for about a year and one half. As I understand it, Liquidol would share the same or similar practical advantages that I get from Polymax, if I could buy it off the shelf.

The one quart bottles and the 1+9 dilution are the reasons I prefer Polymax to Dektol. I don't have room for large bottles of mixed chemistry, and I like to be able to adjust the volume of chemistry to the work I am doing (small trays for small prints and larger trays for larger prints). With the 1+9 dilution, I can get anywhere between 7 to 12 long working sessions from one bottle of developer (depending on tray size and print quantity).

As I said, as I understand it, Liquidol would have the same practical advantages as Polymax, and if I could buy Liquidol without having it shipped, I would most likely support it.

If
 
I have had samples of Liquidol shipped to Vancouver for test purposes.

It has at least 2x the capacity or 2x the tray and shelf keeping of Dektol if not more.

I had nothing to do with TF-4.

Thanks for the nice comments here about Liquidol.

PE
 
Oh the temptation ...

Do you need any more testing, PE?

Actually, while I would be extremely interested in trying Liquidol, unless I could actually buy it "locally", I'd be unlikely to buy it.

So for that reason, it would be unfair to put PE or anyone else through the hassle of sending some.

Now if you could convince Glazer's or someone in Vancouver to stock it .....
 
Well, good prints come from consistency. Pick one paper developer and run with it. I have used the same paper developer for a couple of years now, and am not planning on switching, because I'd have to dial everything in again.

Ralph Lambrecht and Bob Carnie are both masters of the craft. They offer some extremely valuable opinions. No disrespect to PE, who is brilliant, and I'm sure Liquidol is an amazing product.
 
I tried the Liquidol as I was having problems with the arista Developer and also a bottle of edwal platinum. I would get a dozen prints and the the picture would start getting mottled. I thoght I was getting contamination, so I put the stop bath on the other side of the sink...

Tried the liquidol and a small tray load lasts longer than I am able to work at a time, Almost sad to poor out the remainder as it was still fine.

Also wish it was less expenive to ship, or could be found locally, (PE get the manufacturer to bug Henry's to stock it.) but It is probably my default developer as of now. I did notice that it left more black deposits in the tray, but that may be just because I was able to use it more.
 
Charles;

Don't pour it out. Check it out. If it is still good, use it. It goes until the last gasp and then begins to turn dark yellow then orange. That is when to throw it out. Don't waste it!

Matt;

Once it is on-sale, there are no further tests needed. Sorry guys.

If you like it so much and want it on sale with your favorite dealer, tell the Formulary, not me. I am one voice, you are many!

PE
 
If you switch then switch to the best, its called XTOL;--))))
...be not happy with the second best!

Cheers Armin
 
I'm using Liquidol. It is a very nice print developer. Bought it from Formulary to try it out! Formulary makes wonderful products!

But, to be honest, at my age with time on my hands, I don't mind mixing up Bromphen/Dektol/Arista/Formulary powders. I do it when my wife is at work 'cuz I use some kitchen utensils!

Does it perform better? Maybe, maybe not. A lot has to do with the negative! And my eyes. And mood! I like it when clients like it!
 
As print developer?

I use Xtol for film, and love it. But I have a feeling any developer would be just fine, as long as you're consistent with it. I know people that process film in instant coffee and Ansco 130, with resulting prints that are a lot more interesting than mine... It's all in the mind and how far you dare to stretch it.

JohnArs said:
If you switch then switch to the best, its called XTOL;--))))
...be not happy with the second best!

Cheers Armin
Click to expand...
 
Neal said:
Dear Rick,
Darn it!
Neal Wydra
Click to expand...

Do look at their site before forming conclusions....



-------------------------------------
Warm Kitty, Soft Kitty, Little Ball of Fur...
Happy Kitty, Sleppy Kitty, Purr Purr Purr.
 
Liquidol @ Glazers

Glazer's in Seattle is a Formulary dealer stocking quite a variety, but liquidol may not have got thru the system yet. Having a dealer increase their chemistry department in todays market can and will happen if just a few of their core darkroom customer base request and ask for new products that they hear about on APUG. Glazers has been a very responsive dealer with us for over 20years and if you ask they will probably put it on the shelf, as will a lot of other dealers around the nation.
Bud
 
I, too, found Glazer's most helpful. I ordered some 6.5x8.5" FP4+ from them. It was drop-shipped from their distributor, and I had it in 4 days time. As Bud Wilson said, ask and they probably will put it on their shelf or find it for you!

Peter Gomena
 
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