I used Kodak D76 I can't remember the colour but when it was used in trays, it seemed to be amber. It was for prints. Came as two packs of powders, if I remember correctly and one had to be mixed first then you added the other. The developing agent (Metol and Hydroquinone) was in the second pack and the first pack was buffers. I believe metol is colourless in solution but soon pickes up oxygen and goes brown. Hydroquinone reduces the metol and makes the developer last longer. The buffers just keep the solution at the correct askaline pH. If you get the Ilford handbook of Photography you can find recipes of developer and fixer solutions and then you can make your own. It must be mixed correctly or you will get funny results. The first pack must be completely dissolved in slightly warm water (not distilled) before the developing agent is added. Some potable water has calcium in solution. This is important as it hardens the emulsion. I found it took 2 minutes for the image to completely develop and did not change after this time. I used solutions in trays at 20 deg C. Chris http://www.chrisscrazyideas.co.uk http://www.chrissgallery.co.uk |> -----Original Message----- |> From: owner-photoforum@listserver.isc.rit.edu |> [mailto:owner-photoforum@listserver.isc.rit.edu]On Behalf Of Morley |> Roberts |> Sent: 07 May 2003 19:53 |> To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students |> Subject: Re: dektol question |> |> |> I used to be a regular user of Dektol. Have since switched to |> Polymax Paper |> Developer or Ilford Paper Developer. Started to have problems |> with Dektol; |> it would appear to be exausted in appearance almost immediately after |> mixing. I would some times get a white precipate also. I would take the |> mixed solutions and package back to the store and they would cheerfully |> replace it. I would sometimes get 2 or 3 bad packs in a row. Then Kodak |> stepped in and took the entire stock from the store and my samples. They |> then sent me ten free packs; they didn't want to talk about it. When the |> problem recurred I switched. |> |> Originally Dektol appeared clear and colourless to me and |> gradually acquired |> a tea colour. It always worked fine even after becomming almost carmel |> coloured and syrupy. I only threw it out because the popular opinion was |> you shouldn't use it forever. I found an image would start to emerge in |> 10 - 20 Sec. and would throw it out if it took longer than 20 |> Sec. unless I |> only had a few more prints to go. I guess I should note I only |> used small |> packages and suspect the problem might be related to packaging |> I did prefer |> Dektol. |> |> |>
