Also known as Agfa 115. This is a glycin/hydroquinone paper developer. I mixed up a batch last weekend, diluted it 1+7, and developed some Bergger Art grade 2 in it. The prints are gorgeous, with beautiful gradation and a long tonal scale, all made from either Bergger BRF200, T-Max 100, or Verichrome Pan negatives developed in PMK. Developing times were 4 to 10 minutes, but it was well worth the time and trouble. I recommend Dassonville D-3 wholeheartedly.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), November 14, 2001

Answers

Hi Ed. My glycin just arrived yesterday and I planned on experimenting with various film and paper developers, thus your post has perfect timing. No real dissatisfaction with what I've been using, just bored and wanted to try something out of the mainstream like Ansco 130. Maybe learn something. Save me a search- what's the formula for Agfa 115? Thanks!

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), November 14, 2001.

Just got it off your always complete site- thanks!

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), November 14, 2001.

As Conrad has discovered, the formula for Agfa 115 is on the Formulas page of my web site. Since I was planning to use the 1:7 dilution and didn't have an immediate need for 8 liters of working solution, I mixed a bit less than the formula calls for. Steve Anchell also says that it can be used at a dilution of 1+15, with concomitantly longer developing times: I believe he said for a "photogravure" effect. At 1+7 it was more than a minute before I even saw an image start to form.

Ansco 130 is also a righteous formula. In a few instances where I didn't get the level of blacks I wanted after 3 or 4 minutes in the Dassonville D-3, I gave the print another minute in Ansco 130 (1+1). With glycin developers, I don't recommend turning the print face down in the developer tray--it tends to pick up smudges and stains off the bottom.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), November 14, 2001.

My advanced class ran some test with a varity of papers and developers, they really like the Ansco 130 especially with the bromide papers. I have used one of the dassonville formulas but i don't think it was the one mentioned in the above mesage. What is the shelve life of gylcin? THe last batch i had went bad, but in all honesty i had it for quite awhile. I also have some Bergger paper but haven't really worked with it. Based on your above thoughts i need to take a closer look. Have a great trip Ed.

-- Ann C lancy (clancya@mediaone.net), November 14, 2001.

In my experience, Ansco 130 keeps for months, but the hydroquinone becomes inactive at some point (oxidizes or something)--I think that is what gave Ansel Adams the idea to leave the hydroquinone out. I can't say at this point how long Dassonville D-3 will last, but I suspect the hydroquinone will begin to deteriorate fairly quickly. I try to use my glycin within a couple of years. It oxidizes rapidly. When fresh it is a light brown and becomes progressively darker as it ages. I've used it when it was pretty dark and it still worked as a paper developer, but I did have some once that was just too far gone to use.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), November 14, 2001.