[pure-silver] Re: Favorite Print Developer


On Sep 22, 2008, at 18:02, ERoustom wrote:
I've used four developers so far: Ilford MGD, Silvergrain Tektol (Standard & Neutral), Sprint Silverfast, and Dektol. Ilford MGD was fine, good all-around. Silvergrain was very finicky about room temp, and even though I like it's lack of poisons and pollutants, I can't say got the most out of it. I should really try it again someday, but I'd be curious what others think about it. Sprint really does give a neutral to cold black, but doesn't give me the range of tones that Dektol gives (or maybe that's my imagination). Dektol seems to be my favorite. To my eye it makes a rich and warm black, it's cheap, and it's forgiving on room temp. What about you? 

Elias
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You could get a set of scales and book of formulas and mix lots of different developers. I have been mixing Dupont 54D for about 20 years. Looking at the formula it is very similar to Dektol. Recently I ran out of Sodium Carbonate and decided to get some at the local photo store ( I usually find a cheaper source) only the local photo store was out of it so I bought a 19 liter box of Dektol. I can't see a difference.
A lot of people really like the Ansco 130 with Glycin. Looking at the formula of that you see that compared to Dektol it calls for a bit less Metol and more Potassium Bromide but otherwise Ansco 130 is very similar to mixing a liter of Dektol and adding 5 grams of Glycin. I use Ansco 130 quite a lot and I have actually mixed it up and forgotten to add the Glycin and didn't notice the difference. My directions say to mix the Glycin in after the Potassium Bromide, but I am so used to ending with Potassium Bromide that I have several times nearly forgotten to add the Glycin.
My favorite developer for printing on warm tone paper is Ansco 130 with Glycin so old that it has turned milk chocolate brown. It adds just a bit of warm stain to the paper. The same can be achieved by adding a cup of tea to the stop bath. 

Dennis

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