What is your favorite paper developer and why?

[Corran]

I sure would like to see a list of paper and developer combinations with resultant scans/digital images matched as close as possible to the print, so as to see the final tones achieved (also including toned / not toned afterward with selenium or whatever). I have been experimenting with different papers and developers over the last year but there are soooo many options, one cannot hope to try them all reasonably.

[Bill_1856]

I sure would like to see a list of paper and developer combinations with resultant scans/digital images matched as close as possible to the print, so as to see the final tones achieved (also including toned / not toned afterward with selenium or whatever). I have been experimenting with different papers and developers over the last year but there are soooo many options, one cannot hope to try them all reasonably.

Bruce Barlow did an exemplary job of this a few years ago. Of course, almost all of the papers are long gone. You might PM him (fine focus workshops).

[Duolab123]

Bromophen 1&3, occasionally add a little Selectol Soft. I played around with some old Edwal and Ansco formulas. I am sure I will again. Good old Dektol. For years.

Boy I miss The old graded papers, Medalist, Ektalure, Portriga, Brovira, Azo, on and on. Ektalure G surface, if I was a billionaire, that's what I would make. That and back printed Azo postcards in cardstock A surface, (dull smooth ) Multigrade paper is so fantastic, but it's almost too perfect.
Best Regards Mike

[John Bowen]

Bruce Barlow did an exemplary job of this a few years ago. Of course, almost all of the papers are long gone. You might PM him (fine focus workshops).

Yes. Bruce's work was published in View Camera magazine back in spring 2004.....

[Michael E]

I sure would like to see a list of paper and developer combinations with resultant scans/digital images matched as close as possible to the print

Too many variables (film, exposure, development, enlarger, paper, exposure, filtration, development, scan, monitor, etc.) to compare the results of different contributors. You'd have to stick doggedly to a scientific pattern to make this comparable. I think I'd rather just read about personal experiences, preferences and "soft facts".

[Taija71A]

Bruce Barlow did an exemplary job of this a few years ago. Of course, almost all of the papers are long gone. You might PM him (fine focus workshops).

Yes. Bruce's work was published in View Camera magazine back in spring 2004.....

https://bwbarlow.files.wordpress.com...out-part-1.pdf
https://bwbarlow.files.wordpress.com...out-part-2.pdf
https://bwbarlow.files.wordpress.com...out-part-3.pdf
https://bwbarlow.files.wordpress.com...out-part-4.pdf

Regards, -Tim.

[Tin Can]

Ilford PQ by the gallon. I print Ilford papers.

Lasts a long time. I dislike any powder.

When my 'art' becomes so good I need better, which may never happen, I will change.

Also PQ does not bother my skin at all. Seems safe. I don't drink it.

I try to take good advice when I hear it and the best advice I got here was work one set of variables for a long time.

[Mark Sampson]

What I found, when I tried different paper developers in the 1990s, was that modern cold/neutral-tone papers didn't show major changes in different developers. Ansco 130 looked the best by a small margin but those results didn't justify the 3-minute developing times and the added cost. YMMV, of course, and warm-tone papers (which I rarely use) are much more sensitive to developers.

[Wayne]

What I found, when I tried different paper developers in the 1990s, was that modern cold/neutral-tone papers didn't show major changes in different developers. Ansco 130 looked the best by a small margin but those results didn't justify the 3-minute developing times and the added cost. YMMV, of course, and warm-tone papers (which I rarely use) are much more sensitive to developers.

But you didn't tell us what your favorite developer is.

Right now mine is Ilford multigrade and that's not because I like it, its because its the only liquid available locally and I'm not doing anything very special or inspired. When Polywarmtone hits the streets again my favorite will be a home brew version of A130 with Phenidone. .

[jnantz]

ansco 130, dektol and caffenol ...
caffenol because it is cheap as dirt
and it can be used with a130/d72 as a split developer
it costs abot 1¢ / print. film is developed in the same developer too.
i've had batches last for 4 or 5 months ( 200 films + 200 prints ) ..

YMMV