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.

Higher quality image

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.

[Ian Grant]

The Bromide added should be a 10% KBr solution not 1%

Ian

[delphine]

Do you know what was in the Ilford cooltone developer which is now discontinued?

Thanks

Dee

[Ian Grant]

Cool tone developer used a proprietary anti-fogging agent which Ilford don't want to divulge, this is probably why they won't publish the formula now it's discontinued.

Ilford's current commercial print developers may well substitute Potassium Carbonate and Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide for the Sodium Carbonate, this allows greater solubility and concentration and reduces costs slightly. (Ilford Patents indicate this).

Ian