Can film developer (LC-29) be used for printing?

[outlawuk]

I have some old paper I want to play with as I return to wet printing after a gap of may years. The only developer I have to hand is Ilford LC-29. I'm not expecting miracles, but will LC-29 work? What should I expect from it? I'd be using old Ilford RC grade 2 paper. (I ordered Adox paper and ilford developer but they are not available til after the holidays).

 

[ddutchison]

You can expect much less contrast than with a paper developer - the print colour may be effected. If your old paper is fogged from age, contrast will be lessened yet again.

As you've been away from printing for several years, I think you'd do better to save the experimentation until you've gotten your darkroom chops back.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

You need paper developer. Papers are developed to a much higher contrast level than negatives, and that developing takes place fast, in just 2 minutes. Paper developers are a lot stronger than film developers to allow this, and to allow a large number of sheets of paper to be developed without replacing or replenishing the solution in the tray.

 

[neelin]

If I'm not mistaken paper developers have Potassium Bromide (or perhaps other restrainers or combos thereof) to restrain base fog. Absence of base fog in film, is not the deal breaker it is with prints, i.e. your whites must remain white in a print.
Robert