Sodium Carbonate Solution

Hi all, first post after lurking without an account for years now!

I have recently acquired a copy of "The Darkroom Cookbook", first edition, by Steven Anchell. I've read it up and down for the past few days and I absolutely love it. So much information and easily readable! I now have a physical book to write in rather than printing out pages of a pdf version.
Anyways, in the print developer section it says I can use a 5% solution of sodium carbonate (50g in 1L water) to "create the appearance of greater contrast through stronger and richer blacks". Is this necessary to do if I only use multi-grade papers with ilford filters/color head filters? (I use both - ilford at school and color head at home).
I do like making my own developers so I understand the basics of the chemistry but manipulating a non-manipulated developer after mixing.

Basically, is it worth it making a 5% solution or just use the filters I already have to manipulate contrast? Or will doing both provide better prints in general?

Thanks all, have a wonderful day

If it were me I would investigate the filters and really learn what they do especially in combination with each other. I have now settled upon using grade 5 foll by grade 00, controlling relative exposure (and therefore) contrast as I go.

PicklesFrog said:

Basically, is it worth it making a 5% solution or just use the filters I already have to manipulate contrast?

Click to expand...

No.

The carbonate solution won't make your developer higher contrast. It will make it more active, which means it will be a bit faster developing your photos. But, keep in mind, the more of a 5% carbonate solution you add to your developer, the more you dilute your developing agents.

Adding carbonate + some restrainer (benzotriazole or potassium bromide) can boost contrast, since the boosted activity will ensure that more dense parts of the print develop fairly quickly while the restrainer holds back the less dense parts. Benzo in particular does not restrain "evenly" -- it really slows down the development of the less dense parts (of a print or a negative). Too much kills the developer, though.

What a 5% solution of carbonate does accomplish on its own, however, is boosting your developer when it should probably be poured down the drain. But only a little and only for a short time. That may just result in more-quickly developing muddy prints, though.

I used to use the carbonate/BTA additives a lot when working with graded papers. Once I switched to VC, I haven't bothered; it's easier to dial in a bit more contrast if needed.

Best,

Doremus

You can also try placing your hand directly on the print in the developer tray. The warmth of your hand helps to accelerate development. Sometimes there is a stubborn highlight area that just won't quite appear. This trick often works. Adding warm developer or carbonate isn't quite as accurate. You can control your hand's placement better than a fluid.