Cool tones, Warm tones Neutral tones

[Ian Grant]

Alternatives to Ilford Cooltone, Warmtone etc

Ilford have published many formulae for film and paper development over the years. Here are some suggestions for processing Ilford papers to obtain a variety of tones. I have also included a soft working developer and a contrast developer to give a full range of option.

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ID-62 PQ Universal Developer, gives neutral tones.
ID-78 PQ Warm-tone Developer, similar to Neutol WA

ID-3 Metol Soft working, similar results to Selectol Soft, and Agfa's Adaptol
ID-14 MQ Contrast developer, will give approx half a grade increase in contrast. Use FS for maximum contrast, can be diluted.

Normal use for Tray development with ID-3, ID-62 & ID-78 is 1+3

A formula similar to ID-62 has been published without the Benzotriazole. If this is made up it can be used as a Cool tone type of developer and by adding additional Bromide becomes like ID-78 warm tone developer, or by adding Benzotriazole solution like ID-62 more neutral (blue tones).


Ilford PQ Developer - Cool Tones

Phenidone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.5 g
Sodium Sulphite (anh) . . . . . . . . 50 g
Hydroquinone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 g
Sodium Carbonate . . . . . . . . . . . 60 g
Potassium Bromide . . . . . . . . . . 2 g
Water to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 litre

Use 1+3 Develop 1½ - 2 mins 20ºC

Neutral/Cold tone: Add 5ml Benzotriazole solution (1%) to each litre of working solution.

Warm tone: Add 7.5 ml Potassium Bromide 1% solution to each litre of working solution.

This Developer formula is identical to Forte FD-203 which is recommended for Forte Polygrade papers, including Poly-warm tone. (No Benzotriazole)


Concentrated Stock Solution.

Ilford PQ Developer (Conc) - Cool Tones

Phenidone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.25 g
Sodium Sulphite (anh) . . . . . . . . .125 g
Hydroquinone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 g
Sodium Carbonate . . . . . . . . . . . .150 g
Potassium Bromide . . . . . . . . . . . 5 g
Water to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 litre

Use 1 + 9
Add additional Bromide or Benzotriazole to alter the tones to the working solution - as above.

[Tom Hoskinson]

Thanks for posting these Iford formulas, IAN!

I am a happy ID-78 and Ilford PQ user

[Rob Archer]

Thanks - I've been looking for this info for a while.

Onw question - what temperature do you mix them at. I usually 40degC for pre-packaged devs.

Rob

[Ian Grant]

40-50ºC should be fine

Ian

[john_s]

Shouldn't ID-14 have some hydroquinone in it?

[Ian Grant]

Quite right John, slipped up there it's corrected now.

[Ian Grant]

The Benzotriazole free formula is identical to Forte FD-203 which is the recommended developer for Forte's Polygrade papers including Poly-warm tone.