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Re: Jobo atl3
From: Keith.Tapscott..6ac6ac8@photobanter.com (Keith Tapscott.)
Richard Knoppow;887144 Wrote:
I think it is always interesting to experiment and
learn. There is a definite effect of highlight compression
when using a staining developer with variable contrast
printing materials. Its quite measureable but may not be
worth doing or may not be desirable for all images.
At this time probably the closest thing
to an "optimum" developer is Kodak Xtol. Next choice is
D-76, which is close to optimum for nearly anything and is
perfectly reliable.
After having used a lot of print developers I have gone
back to plain old Dektol. The published formula D-72 is
about the same stuff. Ilford makes an equivalent. Ilford
Bromophen is a Dektol type developer that uses Phenidone in
place of Metol. It is better for you if you are sensitive to
Metol, which some people are and tends to give more neutral
colored images with some materials. It is perfectly
satisfactory. There are about a zillion print developer
formulas that go to show simply how imprecise one can be in
formulating:-) There is not much difference from one to
another. As far as warm vs cold tone, that is mostly a
property of the emulsion. While it is influenced by the
developer its mainly established by the paper. Developers
can have some influence on toning but that is often related
to the amount of bromide in them or other variations that
can be had by varying around a standard formula.
One of the biggest differences between B&W and color
photography is the lack of standardization in B&W.
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@ix.netcom.comI agree, start with a standard developer like D-76 (ID-11) or Xtol for
film processing.
I like Kodak D-76, as I can buy it cheaper than ID-11 at the moment from
Ag-Photographic in the UK for just £0.99 a litre of stock.
The main advantage I can see for Xtol over D-76 is with replenishment.
As I use D-76 1+1, I am happy to keep using it, although I have tried
Xtol.
Like wise with B&W papers, the character is mostly due to the emulsion
itself rather than the developer types, although they can help in a
subtle way.
Again, a standard paper developer like Dektol, Bromophen, PQ-Universal,
Multigrade or Adox WA liquid (formerly Agfa Neutol WA) would be good
choices for regular use, although there are many others worthy of
consideration. They are too close to each other in performance IMHO to
worry about.
--
Keith Tapscott.
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