Which staining developer?

[Richard Wasserman]

I have used, but not formally tested PMK, WD2D+, and Pyrocat HD and have chosen Pyrocat as the best of the three for my purposes. They are all good, but somewhat different and those differences can be subtle. I'm glad I tried all of them.

[Don Hutton]

They make less of a difference with the T-Max films whose emulsion does not benefit from the stain as much as the other films.


steve simmons

Nonsense.

[Robert Brummitt]

I also use PMK, Rollo pyro but my prefered developer is Wd2d+. I get some really nice negs with it. But, I think of what I'm photographing, the film I'm using, the lighting contrast and then decide which developer to us.
Example is if i'm working in soft light like Oregon cloud cover the its Wd2d+, If I have a harsher contrast then I go for PMK. Both of these are used for roll films and some sheets. The Rollo pyro is strickly for the jobo.
This last summer, I did a comparison of all three for a workshop. All gave great results. The Rollo had a stronger mask/stain followed by PMK and last was Wd2d+. All the films were Ilford HP5 and FP4. They all printed at different times according to the mask/stain.

[sanking]

Tmax 400 in the Pyrocat MC is just stunning and the prints really glow. I mix it in Glycol and it seems the stuff could last forever. Pyrocat may have changed my life. Thanks Sandy...Evan Clarke

Evan,

Thank you.

It is very gratifying to read such a positive testimonial.

Sandy

[chilihead]

Thanks Don- I am waiting to try the new 4x5 100/400 tmax coming soon from Kodak, in Rollo Pyro in a Jobo - P

[Leonard Metcalf]

Thanks for the replies. I was particularly worried about using it in a daylight tank. I don't have a darkroom at home, and am left to process in the kitchen with my combi plan. Does PMK work ok in a daylight tank. I understand that Pyrocat goes well with this combination, but have read that its shelf life is only one year.

Thanks,

Len

[sanking]

Thanks for the replies. I was particularly worried about using it in a daylight tank. I don't have a darkroom at home, and am left to process in the kitchen with my combi plan. Does PMK work ok in a daylight tank. I understand that Pyrocat goes well with this combination, but have read that its shelf life is only one year.

Thanks,

Len

Len,

The shelf life of Pyrocat-HD mixed in water is about a year. However, Formulary has been supplying Part A mixed in glycol for a couple of years, and mixed in glycol the shelf life is pretty much indefinite. I have some on hand mixed in glycol over three years ago and it still works fine.

Sandy King

[Jim Rice]

Another vote for Pyrocat HD. I use it with FP-4+ in 8x10 in a Unicolor drum and it just works.

[Yong-ran Zhu]

I have used Pyrocat HD bought from the PF for almost 6 months with FP4+ sheet film. I got very good results and stopped using Xtol, which I used for many years. Once I saw Evan used tmax 400 with Pyrocat MC, then I tried Pyrocat HD with Tmax 400. It gave me so good negatives which I never had before. I showed one testing picture to Evan, which was made in a sunny afternoon. The sun came from windows and direct projected on my dinning table. The table cloth was white and some white silky texture. The light range of the image was Zone 3 to Zone 9 and a half. The image was printed on the Ilford warmtone FB paper. It shows highlight part with all the details. My view is that Tmax 400 with Pyrocat HD or MC is wonderful combination. Thanks Sandy!
Yong-ran Zhu

[Shen45]

Len,

The shelf life of Pyrocat-HD mixed in water is about a year. However, Formulary has been supplying Part A mixed in glycol for a couple of years, and mixed in glycol the shelf life is pretty much indefinite. I have some on hand mixed in glycol over three years ago and it still works fine.

Sandy King

Sandy or anyone else, do you have any idea on the shelf life of PMK part "A" mixed as the concentrate stock solution using distilled water. -- In other words not mixed for use which is rather short I believe. Also the same info for part "B" ??