Favorite Paper Developer?

[tycho]

I was wondering what everyone liked to use for paper developer. I've been trying to find a long lasting dev for a beginner. Formulary's Liquidol looks good - the 1:9 ratio makes me happy as I figure I'll be doing a lot of trial and error as I'm learning.

 

[drewbarb]

Years ago I took a workshop with master printer Jim Megargee, and he recommended Ethol LPD developer. I've been happily using it ever since. It's extraordinarily versatile, cheap, and lasts an absurdly long time. One interesting feature of LPD is that you can control the tone by changing the dilution.

I mix up a gallon of stock solution from a can of powder; once it's cool I usually use it diluted 1:2 or 1:3 for fairly neutral tones with most papers. I reuse "seasoned" developer, replenishing with some fresh stock and water at each print session, according to Jim's recommendations, and have found that 1 gallon of mixed stock will make literally three or four hundred 8x10 prints.

 

[tycho]

Thanks, I'll look it up.

 

[Dan]

Check out Ansco 130, available from Photographer's Formulary.
It lasts forever, can be used straight or 1:1 and gives beautiful tonality.

 

[Frankd]

I have been using Ethol LPD too for many years. I use it powder form also. It has a long shelf life and even the working solution has good life. I have used it for 2 days in a row covering it with saran wrap between sessions. I also like the tonality when I mix it 1:6.

 

[tycho]

Check out Ansco 130, available from Photographer's Formulary.
It lasts forever, can be used straight or 1:1 and gives beautiful tonality.

My local shop has Amidol but not Ansco 130. Living close to a good shop helps on shipping which nearly doubles the cost, even in powder form. I'll do my research on Ethol LPD which my shop has also. I've been using Tf4 for film development and plan to use it for paper, so I'm partial to Formulary.

 

[Photo_Smith]

I liked the Agfa Neutol range was always a fave with me especially the WA. Interestingly most paper developers give a warmer image with more dilution...

 

[imush]

Formulary liquidol

 

[sniki]

Kodak Dektol & Tetenal Eukobrom.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Amidol.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Jani_from_Finland]

Neutol, but intend to try some of the Moersch paper developers.

 

[Vics]

Until I gave up the wet darkroom a few months ago, I used Lauder's Formula 872. It may be a west coast (of US) thing. Before that Dektol.

 

[Nokton48]

My local shop has Amidol but not Ansco 130. Living close to a good shop helps on shipping which nearly doubles the cost, even in powder form. I'll do my research on Ethol LPD which my shop has also. I've been using Tf4 for film development and plan to use it for paper, so I'm partial to Formulary.

My alltime favorite paper developer is Amidol. I used to mix my own from bulk chemicals. If you can find it premixed, you might consider giving it a try.

Edward Weston's preferred paper soup. It really is something special.

 

[blackwave]

I've recently switched to the Ethol LPD from standard fare Dektol. I had been using Dektol for years only because I learned on it. The Ethol LPD is great for the warmth I love to use. With my particular methods, it seems like I can pull out the midtones more easily, but it seems so subjective that I would hesitate to call that a quality of the developer. Shelf life, cost, etc.. all good for me!

 

[tycho]

Thanks everyone, keep it coming. As a beginner I appreciate all the advice. The amidol is nice as it comes in several small packages per use. The downside seems to be 2-3 hour? use before it goes bad, not sure if I'm reading the product description correctly.

Vic, I can't find Lauder's Formula 872 anywhere, even on the Lauder's website. Perhaps discontinued.

I'll do research on Neutol, it goes under the name Compard Print WA Paper Developer? The 86 degree F mix has me a bit turned off. I tolerate it with D76, but I usually do that for a large batch. With Neutol do you mix as needed?

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

The Rollei Stuff...RPN and RPW also neutol-S. Used to do a lot with dektol, but I now boycott Kodak products... such a stupid company...

 

[Rom]

From beginning i use tetenal eukobrom. It gives me good tones and deep blacks which i appreciate. It seems that it last quite long (for my use). And, it's a middle range price i think.

Thanks for this thread, it gives a lot of ideas to test !

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Another vote for Ansco 130, it last a very long time and when it starts to get real dark i just mix a fresh batch and mix that with the old dark Dev. 1+1
I use it 1+1 from the stock solution. Mixed from scratch from this formula http://www.jackspcs.com/pd130a.htm

Amidol is great as suggested but i don't think that is what the OP was looking for as it has a very short life when mixed.

 

[tycho]

Thanks Rom and Sniki for the Tetenal Eukobrom suggestion. It's in my shop and at a great price. I love this in the description, "... approximately 1,000 - 8x10 sheets per 1 liter of stock solution." I know it's based on taste but would you both suggest a 1:4 or 1:9 dilution as a good starting point or something else?

Jan, I've taken Ansco 130 off my list only because of the cost of shipping, it more than doubles total cost. Also, I'm not comfortable at this point in mixing my own developer from scratch.

 

[clcolucci58]

I have been using Dextol and Ilford's Multigrade and like the results of Dextrol better. Just got a can of LPD and going to try it when my Dextol is gone.
Regards
clc