Windisch Surface Developer _ what's correct

Raghu Kuvempunagar said:

Hi Jens,

Good to know that Windisch stock solution does have a useful shelf-life of a few months. Interestingly, Windisch working solution is much stronger (in Catechol) than Pyrocat and OA and yet "too soft on fast films". Could this be also due to the absence of Sulphite?

Click to expand...

Photo Engineer said:

It is not difficult to see that if you wish a compensating developer, you use lower sulfite and if you wish to mitigate the compensation then use higher sulfite.

I would guess that people fell into the error of mistaking this formula due to the high level of catechol in the original formula and decided it was a misprint, misunderstanding that it was there for a reason. They also probably got high fog. So, they inverted the ratios.

Click to expand...

Raghu Kuvempunagar said:

Ok, I see it's by design like this as noted by PE. Interesting!

Click to expand...

Jens Hallfeldt said:

Indeed, this is a great thread to understand these developers. Sandy King gave us great resources on the topic, too.
And btw, I know why Jay called his one Obsidian Aqua - after use of a very low sulfite Pyrocat dev. it comes very dark out of the tank, like that blackish stone.

Click to expand...