Hi there,
well it's 3am here and I'm almost done working with the high definition Paterson FX39 developer down to homeopathic dilutions with Fuji Acros sheet film.
One aspect of Paterson FX39 which I love is its tonality when diluted from 1:14 - 1:56 below the manufacturer's recommended concentrations, approaching semi-stand development.
Noticing that I have been tending towards hydroquinone as well as metol developers for most extended range development (although the grain is still there), I realise that I've barely touched phenidone based or pyro-based techniques for over a year.
Possibly because of a silver gelatin work flow, I've not found room to include pyro-[catechol] techniques. Whereas with POTA developers, for lith and high contrast film, the emphasis on grain suppression seems to force a trade off with respect to extended tonal range. The literature on POTAs seems to indicate (fleeting) interest in these phenidone based developers for some of the more novel ultra slow speed film currently available [Gigabit, Spur, Copex, Tech Pan] although it is harder to find any literature on the use of such developers in suppressing grain and extending the tonal range of more conventional film rated at an E.I. of 80-125 during the development phase. Most of the developer's recommendations seem to indicate ultra-fine grain or document film as the intended film. On the other hand pyro-[catechol] substitution as a developer is much older as a technique and seems to favour tonal range, despite its more recent application for developing micro- and document film, although at the expense of a possibly more noticeable grain structure in the negative.
I wonder if anyone who has used the three developers (not all at once) could offer any suggestions on their findings with respect to the negatives for silver gelatin printing.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Kind regards,
RJ
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