What additives can be used with Kodak Dektol to increase warm tones in chlorobromide papers such as AGFA MCC??

Ricardddddddddo

-- Ricardo (ricardospanks1@yahoo.com), October 22, 2001

Answers

I think of Agfa MCC as a fairly warm-tone paper already--I'm assuming you use selenium toner but aren't getting the warmth you desire. You might also try brown toner. The only developer additives I can think of are bromide or chloride. Potassium bromide is the standard additive, typically used as a restrainer, but having the secondary effect of warming image tone. Sodium chloride (table salt) will do essentially the same thing--make sure it is non-iodized, rock salt, or kosher salt. The downside is that both will require you to increase your exposure times considerably, and you might also have to change your contrast filtration. Potassium bromide dissolves much easier than sodium chloride, so that is what I typically use. I recommend adding it in increments of 5 grams per liter of working developer solution, until you get the tone you desire. Bromide makes most emulsions seem rather green, but that changes to a warm purple- brown in selenium.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), October 22, 2001.

Well, I use Agfa Neutol Wa, and Agfa Multicontrast Classic. : I couldn't have asked for more, without toning. I use Sistan, only for archival purposes, since I am pleased with the original combo.

-- Marc Leest (mmm@n2photography.com), October 22, 2001.

Try a higher dilution rate than the normal 1:2. Perhaps 1:5.

-- Ann C lancy (clancya@mediaone.net), October 22, 2001.

If you're not locked into using Dektol, or you don't care to fool with additives, you might want to try Ethol LPD developer. At higher dilution ratios (1:4 or 1:5) it produces a significantly warmer tone than Dektol. It also has a distinctive look, which I find very appealing.

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), October 23, 2001.

I second the LPD developer. I've been using this one for years because of it's stableness, consistency in batching and it tonal changes with dilutions.

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), October 23, 2001.

I have recently switched from Dektol to LPD. I can see significant improvement over Dektol AND it lasts for days instead of hours. I use it 1:4 with Forte Polywarmtone, Kodak Polymax Fine Art (C & F surface), and Agfa MCC.

-- Robert Orofino (minotaur1949@iopener.net), October 25, 2001.