[pure-silver] Selectol Soft comments
- From: Charlie Thorsten <charlie_thorsten@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2004 12:14:34 -0700 (PDT)
I've been working everyday with Selectol Soft
for over a month now, and I've come up with a
few distinct impressions of this print developer
that others might find useful. FYI, I've been
printing with Ilford MGFB Warmtone glossy.
First, in addition to being lower contrast, the
image is not as sharp either. If you develop
the same print in Dektol/Neutol/Multigrade
developer, grain and fine detail will be rendered
"crisper". That said, I've found it to be a
wonderful developer for large 35mm portraits
because it softens the grain of the image just
enough to produce a pleasing effect. It's not
"fuzzy" or blurry or anything. Just not as
high acutance. It gives very smooth tones.
Second, tray life is relatively short. Ansel
says in The Print that Selectol Soft has about
half the capacity of Dektol for a given amount
of stock solution. I tend to agree with that
statement. Fresh solution is capable of very
rich blacks, but that's the first thing to
weaken as the developer starts to get exhausted.
I've found I can continue to print if I
replenish it with a bit of stock solution poured
straight into the tray (maybe 1/2L to 1L). Don't
even think about leaving it overnight to use the
next day! It oxidizes very quickly.
I've found the contrast difference to be about
1.5 grades softer than Dektol/Neutol. However,
a print at Grade 2 in Dektol is not identical
to a Grade 3.5 in Selectol Soft, even though the
overall contrast will be similar. SS keeps the
middle values "softer" (hence the name?) even
at higher contrasts.
And this is what I like about it for portraits.
This has been a new printing experience for me
since I've normally been a large format "Rocks,
Roots & Rivers" kinda guy. I'm printing this
project for another photographer who's publishing
a book of this work next summer.
Happy printing everyone!!
-Charlie
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