Ilford ID-1 Film Developer

[Christopher Walrath]

ILFORD FILM DEVELOPER ID-1

An obsolete pyro-soda type developer for tray developing of slower films. This contains two stock solution recipes that are combined for a working solution. The stock solutions have good shelf life, but a short pot life when combined. Faster films may have increased grain, but given the composition of modern films, this is not likely. This developer may cause some slight brown staining on the negatives.

STOCK SOLUTION A

WATER(52C OR 125F)---------750.0 cc
POTASSIUM METABISULFITE---25.0 g
PYROGALLIC ACID-------------100.0 g
ADD COLD WATER TO MAKE----1.0 litre

Be certain to completely dissolve the potassium metabisulfite before adding any of the pyrogallic acid. Failure to do so could result in a boom.

STOCK SOLUTION B

WATER(52C OR 125F)----------------750.0 cc
SODIUM CARBONTE,MONOHYDRATED--44.0 g
SODIUM SULFITE,DESSICATED--------50.0 g
POTASSIUM BROMIDE----------------1.2 g
ADD COLD WATER TO MAKE----------1.0 litre

MIX CHEMICALS IN THE ORDER GIVEN AND USE CAUTION.
For tray development mix 1:10:9 (1 part stock solution A, 10 parts stock solution B, 9 parts water). Develop from 2'30" to 5'00" at 20C.
For tank development mix 1:5:20 (1 part stock solution A, 5 parts stock solution B, 20 parts water). Develop from 5'00" to 10'00" at 20C.

[Trask]

Why would tray and tank development have such different proportions of stock A to stock B to water? One would almost think that the tank formula would have less stock B (accelerator) than stock A for trays. Just curious and I like to learn...

[Ian Grant]

Traditionally tray development requires shorter processing times, this is for convenience and also to minimise the risk of aerial fogging, and uneven staining. So this is why it's used with more alkali & bromide and slightly more concentrated.

People using Pyrocat today un trays often use the 2+2+100 dilution rather tahn the 1+1+100 for similar reasons.

The Metabisulphite needs to be added first to prevent oxidation of the Pyrogallol which decomposes rapidly in water without it. It's important to use reasonably fresh Metabisulphite as this increases the potential shlf life of Part A.

The Ilford published formula uses 37.5g Sodium Carbonate (anhydrous)

Ian

[Christopher Walrath]

Thank you, Ian.