Printable View
Looking for threads and info on two bath print developing. I've been using a lot of graded paper lately and would like to have more control in the printing. I shoot 4X5 and develop in W2D2+. My go to developer is Dektol, and I've done a workshop with Chuck Kelton using Metol added to a second bath but having a bit of trouble getting the results I got at the workshop. One bath Dektol 1+1, second bath Dektol 1+1 with a couple of heaps of Metol. Any thoughts or other ideas?
One common approach has been to use Dektol plus either Selectol Soft or Ansco 120. You can get either of those pre-packaged from the Formulary if you don't want to mix your own from scratch.
I used to use the method Oren describes for printing on the old graded Kodak Elite. I learned it from David Vestal. Usually 1 minute in A-120, one minute in Dektol 1:2. That would be if Dektol alone wouldn't give the contrast i wanted on one grade or another. I could fine-tune it further (30" A-120, 90" Dektol, say) if I needed to but it was seldom worthwhile to go that far.
There's a lot of metol in A-120, use gloves with it (in fact that's good pracitce with all developers.)
A suitable formula that can be mixed from the basic constituents is Dr. Beer's.
http://www.digitaltruth.com/data/drbeers.php