Leaving Kodak for Ilford paper developer

[John Kasaian]

Clayton works for me.

[Duolab123]

I've used Ilford Bromophen for decades, I love it no metol, it's a PQ type. A 5 L package of Bromophen will make 20 L of working solution. Very clean, keeps very well in full bottles.
I'm through with Kodak branded chemistry. Plenty of as good or better. Maybe things will improve. The brown Dektol shows how bad their vendor base is.

[otto.f]

I use Moersch eco 4812, insanely good, deep blacks, shelf life unsurpassed, just great. For both multigrade and fixed papers. https://www.moersch-photochemie.de/c...iv/110/lang:en

[Mark Sawyer]

Mixing it yourself isn't a big deal, I used to have my high school students do it. Mind you, it was at the height of the Harry Potter movies, so we called it "Developing Potion". And we labeled Metol as "Eye of Newt" and Sodium Sulfite was "powdered Unicorn horn", and we waved wands around a lot while mixing it...

The Physics teacher once complained about me...

[Fred V]

The same approach applies to film developers as well, however

D-76 and D-23 are easy to mix from scratch and there are lots of other commercial formulas available as concentrates or kits (HC-110 substitutes from many manufacturers, PMK, Rodinal, Pyrocat, etc., etc.)

I called the "Formulary" asking what ingredients I needed to mix my own Dektol but because it is proprietary they did not know which ingredients are included.

Fred

[Michael R]

Dektol is D-72. To make 1l stock solution:

800ml water at 40-50C. (distilled water may be preferable depending on your water quality). Add each of the following ingredients in this order. Each ingredient should be fully dissolved (by stirring) before adding the next.

3g Metol
45g Sodium sulfite anhydrous
12g Hydroquinone
80g Sodium carbonate monohydrate
2g Potassium bromide

Add cold water to make 1l.

For use, dilute 1+2 with water (1 part stock + 2 parts water)

I called the "Formulary" asking what ingredients I needed to mix my own Dektol but because it is proprietary they did not know which ingredients are included.

Fred

[Fred V]

Dektol is D-72. To make 1l stock solution:

800ml water at 40-50C. (distilled water may be preferable depending on your water quality). Add each of the following ingredients in this order. Each ingredient should be fully dissolved (by stirring) before adding the next.

3g Metol
45g Sodium sulfite anhydrous
12g Hydroquinone
80g Sodium carbonate monohydrate
2g Potassium bromide

Add cold water to make 1l.

For use, dilute 1+2 with water (1 part stock + 2 parts water)

Thank You!

[John Layton]

...another Moersch 4812 user here for the reasons Otto mentions above - plus its great for working in large, open trays...and when it does eventually die - it goes fast! Also make some use of Moersch SE-6 cold tone developer...but specifically with Ilford Warm Tone (fiber) VC - just stunning for certain images, results can almost remind me of the old, cadmium-laced Portriga Rapid.

[LabRat]

Look up the formula for Neutrol (Agfa 100) @ 1:1 or 1:2 dilution... Economical to make, neutral in tone, lasts long in use and bottle...

Tames contrast of cold tone papers, while opening up sparkling mid-tones without heavy blacks and a well modulated look, and slightly cools warm tone papers with little cast...

Great "universal" paper developer... ;-)

Steve K

[esearing]

Also make some use of Moersch SE-6 cold tone developer...but specifically with Ilford Warm Tone (fiber) VC - just stunning for certain images, results can almost remind me of the old, cadmium-laced Portriga Rapid.

When I think of old Portriga I think of warm brownish tones. But per Moersch, SE-6 with MGW creates a cooler tone image. On a scale of Blueish cold to Neutral to warm Brown where would this combo fall in your experience?