Developer/paper question

Florian1234

it's just hide and seek
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Nov 23, 2007
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Hey,

can I use regular paper-developer for multigrade papers? I have the regular Ilford Multigrade paper in dull finish and Tetenal Eukobrom developer.
 
I believe so, there's nothing special about variable contrast (or multigrade in Ilford parlance) that requires a specific developer. I use Silvergrain Tektol currently.
 
You should be able to use your combination without problems. I personally stick with Ilford paper developer and Ilford paper, but it's certainly just my thing and I know people who mix and match whatever they like.
Best wishes with it Florian and let us know how it works out!
 
Thanks guys, it works quite well. I did my first wet prints in my own darkroom today. All in all I did "only" 4 18x24cm prints in 2 1/2 hours, with all the test stripes and looking for a good shot in my negative folder.

They have to dry now. I'll scan and post them tomorrow (or make a crappy p&s camera shot from them and put it up here...). :D
 
The prints are dry now and look very nice for my first time, but could be a tad sharper.
(scanned the prints) #1
3888759255_dcd83c554f_b.jpg


and #2:
3889553482_ced74e52dc_b.jpg


What do you think?
 
The second print is better. To improve the first print, just take a softer filter and expose longer.

Success!

Erik.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the hints and encouragement, guys.

Regarding the first print: I already fiddled with my hand above the tent's entrance. Without that the girl would not be visible, but deep black :D
 
It looks like your negatives were a bit underexposed. Just put the ISO dial of your lightmeter on a lower number, for instance TriX not on 400 but on 320.

Erik.
 
This is how the scanned negatives look like:
3617297603_54742b25a1.jpg

and

2566407857_826244ca4c.jpg


So I most likely put a bit too much light on the paper. Or am I wrong?
 
Cool!
I'd be really happy with print #2. The exposure is spot on.
To tackle no.1 I'd probably try pre-flashing the paper to get rid of that blown-white edges.

No #3 and #4 probably needs split-grading. First expose with low contrast to get the shadow details (about half the total exposure time), and then punch in the filter to a higher grade to add the contrast back into the picture.
 
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