Two questions about replenished D-76

First, are the development times for replenished D-76 the same as with straight D-76?

Second, since I can't buy D-76R I will make it myself. There is an article out there that states that if I want to start a replenished solution, I should not use a Kodak store bought mix. Any truth to this? Wouldn't be a deal breaker, but I happen to have some Kodak D-76 on hand and would rather just use it.

My only experience with that was circa 1960s, when I was just a youngster, and not too knowledgeable about the guts of the developers, etc. Eventually I got deeply involved in large-scale replenished color systems, including regeneration of of everything that was sensible from a cost standpoint.

From that standpoint I would GUESS that the D-76 replenished "tank solution" would behave essentially the same as a straight fresh mix. So it seems like you ought to be able to start out with a commercial D-76 package mix, then keep the same activity level via your homemade replenisher. The key issue, in my judgment, is whether the replenishment rate is adequately high enough to dilute out the byproducts. Of course, I could be wrong.

A Kodak instruction sheet from the day would be the preferred source of data; I'm guessing that you already looked. Personally I would want to have some sort of reference test strips to follow what's going on if I were doing it commercially.

[Update: I took a quick look; Kodak pub J-78 is what you want. They have some special notes for T-max films, a "modified replenisher" is suggested where you mix fresh developer and replenisher, and then replenish at a much higher rate (near 3x higher). This would seem to kill much of the savings, and perhaps is why D-76 replenisher isn't made anymore.]

As you're going to mix your own Replenisher it would make more sense to mix the Developer yourself as well.

The buffering in commercial D76 has been increased from the original formula but this is probably to help when it's used dilute, that's possibly why your article says not to use store bought D76. For many years I used Adox Borax MQ replenished it's more like Agfa 44/Agfa Ansco 17 with less Sodium sulphite than D76/ID-11, it gives slightly better shadow details, is finer grained and sharper.

Ian

Please forgive the question - do you have experience using replenished solutions? I don't want to assume.

Read Kodak J78 and Kodak Z-133 publications completely through, several times. This gives a foundation for photographic process control using replenishment. Replenishment rates are given for T-Max and other films. These are starting points and need to be adjusted based on process control, see below.

Successful use of replenished systems requires process control. This means measuring and controlling solution pH and specific gravity, and the use of control strips to verify contrast. Other factors such as sludge or bacteria management may or may not be needed. I didn't find Kodak control strips, but it appears Ilford strips are available: https://www.freestylephoto.biz/1672109-Ilford-FP4-Plus-125-ISO-35mm-x-100-ft.-Process-Control-Strips

This is entirely doable, and it should be done with full knowledge of what is required.

p.s. Read every post contributed by Photo Engineer, aka Ron Mowrey, on this site. Read them twice.

WilmarcoImaging said:

Please forgive the question - do you have experience using replenished solutions? I don't want to assume.

Read Kodak J78 and Kodak Z-133 publications completely through, several times. This gives a foundation for photographic process control using replenishment. Replenishment rates are given for T-Max and other films. These are starting points and need to be adjusted based on process control, see below.

Successful use of replenished systems requires process control. This means measuring and controlling solution pH and specific gravity, and the use of control strips to verify contrast. Other factors such as sludge or bacteria management may or may not be needed. I didn't find Kodak control strips, but it appears Ilford strips are available: https://www.freestylephoto.biz/1672109-Ilford-FP4-Plus-125-ISO-35mm-x-100-ft.-Process-Control-Strips

This is entirely doable, and it should be done with full knowledge of what is required.

p.s. Read every post contributed by Photo Engineer, aka Ron Mowrey, on this site. Read them twice.

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I run a replenished C41 line at my lab, and am familiar with control strips and their use. Frankly after everything I've read, it looks like XTol is simply better suited to a replenished process. It looks like the TMAX films would indeed throw off my process a bit. I'll just have to decide whether I want to move from D-76 to XTol, as I quite like D-76.

You might also consider T-Max RS, as it offers the same simplicity as X-Tol in a replenishment regime, as well as enhanced detail and the convenience of liquid packaging.

MattKing said:

You might also consider T-Max RS, as it offers the same simplicity as X-Tol in a replenishment regime, as well as enhanced detail and the convenience of liquid packaging.

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NortheastPhotographic said:

I run a replenished C41 line at my lab, and am familiar with control strips and their use. Frankly after everything I've read, it looks like XTol is simply better suited to a replenished process. It looks like the TMAX films would indeed throw off my process a bit. I'll just have to decide whether I want to move from D-76 to XTol, as I quite like D-76.

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Haven't given this a lot of thought but suspect that it's Halide build up and with Tmax films it's Iodides that is an issue. Metol is very susceptible to Bromide build up suppressing its activity and probably more so Iodide, Phenidone is used in Xtol and can tolerate very much higher Bromide levels and Iodide. I used replenished Xtol as soon as it was released here in the UK until moving abroad in late 2006, although I kept my UK Xtol replenished on return visits for another 2 or 3 years, in the latter years all I was using was Tmax 100 or 400.

If I went back to a powder developer it would be Xtol, it's superb, so easy to use replenished and so reliable and cost effective.

Ian