Fragomeni
20-Dec-2011, 21:56
Hi all,
I'm posting this here and over at APUG.
The tried and tested two bath development procedure of developing in Selectol Soft (or equivalent replacement) followed by Dektol to finish the blacks is an established and effective procedure for gaining control of graded paper contrast. Many still use this even with VC papers with split grade printing to gain extreme levels of contrast control. My understanding is that Selectol Soft is a Metol developer which develops the paper slowly compared to hydroquinone developers like Dektol. Development in Selectol Soft develops the higher print values first and then completion of development in a bath of Dektol (metol/hydroquinone) strengthens the mids and dark tones. My question is in regard to using LPD in this way rather then Dektol. For those of you with experience with this, can you talk about how well it works if it works in a similar way. I know that LPD contains hydroquinone but I've been unable to compare it's hydroquinone content with the hydroquinone content of Dektol. Does anyone have an idea of how the compare in this regard (quantities of hydroquinone)? I've used LPD for a long time and it is by far my preferred developer. LPD does not contain metol, instead it uses Phenidone. I am unsure of how Phenidone works and I wonder if it would effect the efficiency of using LPD with Selectol Soft in the same way Selectol Soft and Dektol have historically been used.
For the photographic chemists, my questions are:
1. Does anyone know how LPD compares to Dektol as far as how much hydroquinone they contain?
2. Does anyone know how Phenidone compares to metol as a developer? Is Phenidone a slow working "surface" developer like metol?
3. If Phenidone is similar in function to metol, will the Phenidone content of LPD reduce the effectiveness of LPD as a replacement for Dektol for this purpose? (I assume no since Dektol contains both metol and hydroquinone.)
Thanks to anyone who can offer insight into this! Just to clarify, this question is specific to using the combination as a 2 back development procedure, not mixing the two in one tray as is sometimes done. Finally, yes of course I'm going to try it for myself. I'm just hoping to get some insight while I'm waiting on some stuff to arrive in the mail. Thanks!
I'm posting this here and over at APUG.
The tried and tested two bath development procedure of developing in Selectol Soft (or equivalent replacement) followed by Dektol to finish the blacks is an established and effective procedure for gaining control of graded paper contrast. Many still use this even with VC papers with split grade printing to gain extreme levels of contrast control. My understanding is that Selectol Soft is a Metol developer which develops the paper slowly compared to hydroquinone developers like Dektol. Development in Selectol Soft develops the higher print values first and then completion of development in a bath of Dektol (metol/hydroquinone) strengthens the mids and dark tones. My question is in regard to using LPD in this way rather then Dektol. For those of you with experience with this, can you talk about how well it works if it works in a similar way. I know that LPD contains hydroquinone but I've been unable to compare it's hydroquinone content with the hydroquinone content of Dektol. Does anyone have an idea of how the compare in this regard (quantities of hydroquinone)? I've used LPD for a long time and it is by far my preferred developer. LPD does not contain metol, instead it uses Phenidone. I am unsure of how Phenidone works and I wonder if it would effect the efficiency of using LPD with Selectol Soft in the same way Selectol Soft and Dektol have historically been used.
For the photographic chemists, my questions are:
1. Does anyone know how LPD compares to Dektol as far as how much hydroquinone they contain?
2. Does anyone know how Phenidone compares to metol as a developer? Is Phenidone a slow working "surface" developer like metol?
3. If Phenidone is similar in function to metol, will the Phenidone content of LPD reduce the effectiveness of LPD as a replacement for Dektol for this purpose? (I assume no since Dektol contains both metol and hydroquinone.)
Thanks to anyone who can offer insight into this! Just to clarify, this question is specific to using the combination as a 2 back development procedure, not mixing the two in one tray as is sometimes done. Finally, yes of course I'm going to try it for myself. I'm just hoping to get some insight while I'm waiting on some stuff to arrive in the mail. Thanks!