Why do lith developers not function as a staining developer?

So, I've seen a number of references that certain hydroquinone based developers can be used as a staining developer, producing a yellowish stain on film. These developers are similar to lith developers (ie, low sulfite), yet I never see any reference to a hydroquinone stain being produced by lith developers. What exactly is the key difference that prevents staining with lith developers?

Actually, a lith developer is in my experience a staining developer. The stain contributes a little to the image tone, but it's usually overpowered by the tone of the small silver particles. Make a lith print and bleach it back, you'll end up with a weak stain image.
Btw I did some testing with a one shot staining hydroquinone developer for film some time ago. Worked quite well, but obviously it didnt last very well as working solution; a little less so than pyro developers. There was significant staining, but not as much as with pyrocatechol.

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/lith-printing-–-homebrew-developers.26536/
Pyrocat HD diluted 1:100 gives a developing time around 15 min and contains 0.5 g/L pyrocatechol
Lith developers have a shorter developing time and contain a higher concentration of dihydroxybenzene.
I'm not sure that is the complete story.

Alan Johnson said:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/lith-printing-–-homebrew-developers.26536/
Pyrocat HD diluted 1:100 gives a developing time around 15 min and contains 0.5 g/L pyrocatechol
Lith developers have a shorter developing time and contain a higher concentration of dihydroxybenzene.
I'm not sure that is the complete story.

Click to expand...

What is dihydroxybenzene? I've not heard of that being any component of a lith developer.

Also I think you're right, but many papers maybe are just more difficult to produce staining on. I've noticed in my own formulations (modernlith) that Ilford MGV RC always produces an even and consistent subtle yellow stain across the entire paper. The stain can't be removed by bleaching, so it is not fogging. Also I've tried using some solutions like soaking in sulfite to try to remove the stain, but it wasn't effective.

koraks said:

Actually, a lith developer is in my experience a staining developer. The stain contributes a little to the image tone, but it's usually overpowered by the tone of the small silver particles. Make a lith print and bleach it back, you'll end up with a weak stain image.
Btw I did some testing with a one shot staining hydroquinone developer for film some time ago. Worked quite well, but obviously it didnt last very well as working solution; a little less so than pyro developers. There was significant staining, but not as much as with pyrocatechol.

Click to expand...

I believe your post is what I saw that encouraged me to ask this question actually. The strangest thing I saw with your results was a complete absence of infectious development despite a fairly long development time and high enough pH that it should've been possible.

Dihydroxybenzene = pyrocatechol and hydroquinone of which hydroquinone is in lith developers, pyrocatechol in staining developers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydroxybenzenes