Re: [Leica] was (Introducing Johnny Deadman) now Split Developers??

[Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>]

Bob Keene/Karen Shehade wrote:
> 
> Showing my ignorance....
> 
> what is the process for "split D-76"? Or "split developers"?
><Snip> 
A split developer is where you take the Borax or the Carbonate; the Alkali out
of the rest of the formula and you use it as a second bath. 3 or 4 minutes each.
 After the film absorbs all the developing agent it is "activated" by the alkali
in the second bath as a developer needs alkali to work. So you get this
incredibly compensating effect. Not the cleanest negs but certainly the fastest.
Highlights that will not block up no matter what. Shadows that are very strong.
You can use the first bath over and over till the cows come home way after it
turns ugly.
Developing times tend to be unified. You put all you films in the same tank and
run it.
Temperature is not critical, throw away that thermometer.
But again the negs are in some ways very easy to print in others too muddy.
Depends on subject matter. Worth a go. I used them between '82 and '84. Not
great for white backdrop work as the white doesn't drop out like it would need
to. If anything is going to give you more real film speed it is this developing
method. If i recall on the can of diafine it says to use Tri x at 800 but it's
been a decade or two since I've last seen a can. Dignam has a Diafine substitute.
Mark Rabiner