Darkroom developer – ratios and type?
Developer ratio & type problems – help?
I’m a first year college student and have worked in a darkroom for a few years at my highschool, but I’ve never been the one to mix – or buy – the chemicals myself.
I shoot Kodak TMAX 400, use ilford RC VC satin and pearl paper – as well as ilford VC fiber paper – and have purchased Kodak powdered D-76 developer.
I mixed the powder and have 1 gallon of developer. It says to use 1:1 to develop film. So I now mix equal parts developer and water, correct?
So that developer is only for film. I’ve heard I can mix 1:3 for “working solution”.
Is this the developer I use for paper?
I’ve heard there is supposed to be different developers to do film and paper. If you could link me to the best developers for this set-up, it would be great.
I’m not one to “experiment” with different darkroom / photo processing techniques and just want to find a developer / film / paper combo I can rely on and don’t need to change.
Cheers,
Cole
Hi,
D-76 is not meant for paper developing but for film only. Kodaks B&W paper devoloper would be Dektol.
If using D-76 diluted 1:1 you dilute just before developing and discard it afterwards – no re-using.
If you use it at full strength there are replanishers.
Diluting it 1:3 is sometimes said to give more acutance but it is generally regarded as experimental developing. There are better develpers for the job if acutance is the topic. Kodak does not give any developing times for a 1:3 dilution on their instruction sheet only for full strength and for 1:1 dilution.
Have a look here:
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/j78/j78.pdf
About 1:3 dilution:
http://photo.net/film-and-processing-forum/0077de
Using D-76 for film and Dektol for the paper should give you predictable and stable results.
Just found this source – which describes making an improvised paper developer using D-76 and Sodium carbonate:
http://photo.net/black-and-white-photo-printing-finishing-forum/00R87P
Experimental as well, I believe.
It’s always a good idea to do some tests before doing the “important” pics with a new developer.
Good light and success.
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Kodak D-76 Developer (Powder), B&W Film 1 Gallon $5.89 For general-purpose use with films such as Kodak T-MAX Professional, PLUS-X Pan, and TRI-X Pan Films; also for some spectroscopic films and plates. A favorite of pictorial photographers.Yields full emulsion speed and maximum shadow detail with normal contrast. Moderately fine grain, excellent development latitude.For use in: small and large tanks, trays, rotary-tubes, rack-and-tanks Keeping Proper… |
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Kodak Dektol Black & White Paper Developer, Powder to Make 1 Liter. $2.95 Kodak DEKTOL Developer is a single-powder, easily prepared paper developer for producing neutral and cold-tone images. This developer has a high capacity and uniform development rate. An excellent all-purpose paper developer for tray processing…. |
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Kodak Dektol Developer (Powder) ~ 1 Gallon $5.79 Kodak DEKTOL Developer is a single-powder, easily prepared paper developer for producing neutral and cold-tone images. This developer has a high capacity and uniform development rate. An excellent all-purpose paper developer for tray processing…. |
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