Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/09/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 05:11 PM 9/23/2007, Alex wrote: >Thanks. >Frankly, I'm still quite a newbie into B&W processing yet, so far about >15 rolls (mostly Tri-X), all in HC-110. Do you mean that FORMULARY is >kind od set of chemicals aimed to mix up into various kind of >commercially available developers ? Sound kinda lego... ;-) Does that >allow to yield HC-110, XTOL and other developers similar to those >available commercially ? >That might be solution, however I suspect lots of precise chemical >measurements and hassle may be involved...am I wrong ? Many of us who do extensive darkroom work have come to mix our own basic formulae. I would suggest that you check out the PHOTOGRAPHERS FORMULARY website. There are a number of worthwhile books available -- I have found Dignan's 150 BLACK AND WHITE FORMULAS the most accessible. There is also the PLI (Photo Lab Index), a massive volume, and the outstanding GEVAERT MANUAL. Copies of these are readily available inexpensively from the Advanced Book Exchange and the like. CHAMPLIN ON FINE GRAIN is a bit harder to find but is most worthwhile. Very few of these formulae are protected by law, most because of age. The Rodinal formula dates to 1892, that for D-76 from 1926. XTOL is still protected by a patent but it is a simple formula based on orange juice, and equivalent mixes can readily be developed legally. Rodinal is generally my developer of choice because of its longevity -- I have a bottle of 1962 production which still works and works quite well. But D-76 is my fall-back and, on a Sunday evening when I run out of everything else, I can whump up a liter in a few seconds from chemistry on hand. Give it a try: it is also a LOT less expensive! Marc msmall@aya.yale.edu Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir!