Slow Developing RC like Agfa RC 310

[Christopher Colley]

Greetings!

I became a user of the Agfa MCP RC 310 paper mostly because of its cheap price.. but after that I began to enjoy its very slow development time, at least compared to the Ilford MGIV I had been used to.

When I used (ok have about 50 sheets left) the RC 310 in Ilford PQ 1+9 It would take a good minute 15secs before the image appeared fully developed and another minute before the blacks were REALLY black, the same process happened in about 45 seconds with my MGIV.

I enjoyed this slow development because it left me able to leave a slightly warm tone to my prints without the problems caused by pulling a still-developing sheet of MGIV out of the developer before its time, mostly streaks and a very flat look...

Beyond working with FB materials, is there another product (or developer?) out there that will give me similar results to the Agfa MCP RC 310 that takes over 2 minutes in Ilford PQ 1+9 to get pure blacks and a complete development?

 

[Nick Zentena]

Could you dilute the developer more? I know 310 [or is the matt 312?] is done much quicker then that with the developer I use. 50 seconds and it's done.

 

[fschifano]

I haven't noticed that Agfa MCP 310 is slow to develop. I typically give 90 seconds development in Dektol 1+3. It looks like it's done a lot quicker than that though I give 90 seconds to be sure that the darkest areas are fully developed.

 

[srs5694]

I also haven't noticed MCP 310 RC being any longer to develop than other papers. I've used Dektol, E-72, and DS-14. Maybe this is a quirk of this paper with Ilford PQ.

The RC paper that I have noticed takes a long time to develop is the Oriental Seagull product (I don't recall the precise designation). It takes close to twice as long as the Agfa (or other RC papers) to develop. The claim on the box is that it's a non-developer-incorporated paper, which might account for this difference.

 

[discotex]

I haven't noticed that Agfa MCP 310 is slow to develop. I typically give 90 seconds development in Dektol 1+3. It looks like it's done a lot quicker than that though I give 90 seconds to be sure that the darkest areas are fully developed.

I've found Agfa MCP310 about the same as Ilford in Ilford Multigrade...

Strangely enough someone else is trying to find a paper as fast as the Agfa RC papers...

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

..Matt

 

[dancqu]

Could you dilute the developer more?

The developer's ph makes a big difference.
I've added sodium carbonate to ACU-1 to make
a quicker print developer of it. Worked very
well I might add. ACU-1 Print developer.
Capacity 36, 8 x 10s per liter of stock.

Working the other way I'd suggest adding A&H
bicarbonate of soda, sodium bicarbonate. That
will lower the ph. Try one teaspoon in a 1/4
liter volume and add until just right. Dan