DIY Paper Developers ?

[mbisc]

I have read with great interest the long thread on Caffenol here, and now I'm wondering if there is a similar developer (i.e. something you can mix up with "common" household chemicals) for developing paper?

My problem is that too much time passes between developing days, so my mixed developers go bad before I can use them again...

 

[Joao]

You can use Caffenol also for paper prints .
and there is an interesting alternative option here
http://www.diyphotography.net/developing-paper-with-red-wine

Regards
Joao

 

[mbisc]

Thanks -- I didn't know. The red wine print seems a bit too contrasty for my preferences (YMMV, of course), but I'll have to try Caffenol with prints.
By the way, is the "strong smell" really that bad, and does it settle in the paper (or the plastic of trays and tanks)?

 

[Ezzie]

Don't know about smell sticking to the prints, but it does to the tanks I use, if only very mildly. The smell itself is not that bad really, nor that strong. I have a very acute sense of smell, and I wouldn't class it as anywhere near a ripe French cheese, say Chevre or Brie. 😉

Though having experience from film development only, I know of several that use Caffenol for prints. The main issues are it can be a bit slow, and because it's virtually opaque, you have trouble seeing the print developing.

 

[mbisc]

Thanks -- never thought about the fact that Caffenol might be opaque. How do you define "a bit slow" -- an extra stop (which wouldn't matter), or several stops (say, 20 seconds for the enlarger turn into several minutes)?

 

[Joao]

Be aware that a brownish/sepia discoloration of the prints is to be expected. And let us know about your results.
Good luck
Joao

 

[Ezzie]

Sorry for not being specific. I meant slow, as in slow acting. If it works anything like it does with film it can be a bit speed enhancing.