Agfa/Ansco/GAF 81 Reprolith Developer

[Tom Hoskinson]

SOURCE: AGFA FORMULAS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC USE
Published 1939 by Agfa Ansco Corporation, Binghampton, N.Y.

Agfa/Ansco/GAF 81 Long Life Reprolith Developer, (can also be used as a Lith Paper Developer)

Water (125F/52C)-----------------------750ml
Hydroquinone----------------------------35 grams
Sodium Sulfite (anhydrous)---------------55 grams
Sodium Carbonate (mono)----------------80 grams
Citric Acid-------------------------------5.5 grams
Potassium Bromide-----------------------10 grams
Cold water to make-----------------------1 liter

FOR DEVELOPMENT OF LITH FILM: Do not dilute for use. Normal development time is about 3 minutes at 68F/20C.

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FOR ONE-SHOT DEVELOPMENT OF LITH PAPER: Dilute 1 part developer with 4 parts water as a starting point. Develop 2 - 3 minutes at 68F/20C.

Higher dilutions than 1 + 4 may work better for a particular lith paper or a particular "look" - testing is required.

Saving used developer and adding a small amount (30ml to 50ml per liter as seasoning) to the working developer is recommended by some users.

[karavelov]

FOR ONE-SHOT DEVELOPMENT OF LITH PAPER: Dilute 1 part developer with 4 parts water as a starting point. Develop 2 - 3 minutes at 68F/20C.

My experience with lith-printing shows that it work better when diluted more. My standard dilution are 1+15 - 1+25. This gives the sulfite level below 5g/l that is needed for infections development to begin.

[psvensson]

Originally Posted by karavelov

My experience with lith-printing shows that it work better when diluted more. My standard dilution are 1+15 - 1+25. This gives the sulfite level below 5g/l that is needed for infections development to begin.

I agree - I tried a similar developer and found no infectious development at lower dilutions. At higher dilutions, it probably oxidizes quickly, since it contains no buffer of sulfite bound with formaldehyde.

Compare to this ready-mix lith developer

[sun of sand]

Anyone know if this is the same as Paralith? Heard of Rerodol? I can't seem to find these two lith developers. Reprodol is A/B and Paralith is single solution

[Ian Grant]

This is yet another case were the German Agfa 81 developer MQ formula differs considerably from the Agfa-Ansco 81.