Dektol paper dev ... okay for film?

[nworth]

Dektol is very similar to Kodak D-19, which is commonly used to get very high contrast, continuous tone negatives. It is not a fine grain formula, but it works well for its intended purposes. It can be very useful to develop negatives for contact printing with alternative processes, like platinum or cyanotype. It is usually used for prints, for which it is excellent. For ordinary negatives, you need to get a regular negative developer, like Kodak HC-110.

[Ian Grant]

D19 is quite different to D72/Dektol. D19 has far more sulphite and less carbonate so won't give similar results.

Ian

[KenS]

Before I try and return it, I'm wondering if I can use it (Dektol) for film? I seem to remember people saying paper developer gives way-out grain for film ...

There was a paper in the Journal of Biological Photography a number of years ago, where the author photographed a golf ball and processed the (same) film in different developers to evaluate sharpness/grain etc.

It was his opinion that Dektol at 1:29 (or perhaps 1:31, if my aging memory serves me well enough) was a as good as a "winner".

My copies are still packed in boxes in the basement (after a move) but if I find the article......

Ken

[BradS]

PE
I don't mean to hijack the thread...

Sheesh! Then dont! Your question deserves it's own thread.

[walter23]

It works. I've done it a couple of times. Didn't notice much difference between it and my normally processed negs to be honest (though I'm usually not too bothered by grain since I shoot 4x5).

[Dietmar Wolf]

These pics are mainly done with Dektol developer if I remember right. http://igorposner.net/

[Marco Buonocore]

Dietmar, those examples you've posted are wonderful! It's exactly what I'm looking for. Can't wait to feed my holga some tri-x and have a crack at the negs with Dektol. Thanks!

[Dietmar Wolf]

Hi Marco.

Read this: http://www.ball-saal.com/ThirdParty/...,8906#msg-8906 and have fun !