I use dektol developer to develop my prints and i was just wondering if the temperature of the developer relates to the contrast of the photo. That, and whether or not how much i dilute the developer. Sometimes i think i put in a little too much water and i wonder if that effects the results.

-- Liz (bumriver@aol.com), December 13, 2001

Answers

Response to temperature and dillution in relation to contrast

With dektol, you will change the contrast with dilution but there is no reason you should use it more that a 1:4 dilution to get more contrast.

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), December 13, 2001.

The hotter the developer, the more contrast you will get, but generally if you use it in the 68-75 degree F. range you will get pretty consistent results. Much over 80 degrees you are likely to get fogging.

I don't use Dektol much any more, but when I do it is at 1+1 or 1+2 dilutions. Generally, higher dilutions give lower contrast.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), December 13, 2001.

Printing one summer in college, my prints were coming out strange, and fast. Did a temp check, and the developer was nearly 100F. Estimated what the developing time should be at that temp, and adjusted exposure to match. Prints came out with more contrast, but not excessive, but extremely grainy. The paper grain wash showing.

How do you put too little water in the dilution? Don't you measure?

-- Charlie Strack (charlie_strack@sti.com), December 13, 2001.

If you are using resin coated paper, temp can have minimal impact as long as in a reasonable range, maybe 18C to 25C, since process is almost always carried out to saturation. With fiber based papers, things depend on your processing habit.

However, I do not recommend to push Dektol temperature higher than 25C or so because it is likely to cause fog in highlights.

Dektol becomes warmer toned developer as it comes close to exhaustion but contrast doesn't seem to change as much as the tone does... This, and because I use resin coated paper most of the time, Dektol and D-72 are not my favorite paper developer...

-- Ryuji Suzuki (rsuzuki@rs.cncdsl.com), December 14, 2001.

I highly recommend trying Ethol's LPD. With dilution, you will not change contrast but tones. By using straight, you will get a cool tone and the higher dilution will warm this developer. It is beautiful.

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), December 21, 2001.

Has anyone wondered why the manufacters of these developers recommend that they be used at near 68 degrees F ( 20c) ?

-- James Megargee (jmegargee@nyc.rr.com), December 22, 2001.