Mixing Pyrocat-HD

[Philippe Grunchec]

If you need to develop the negative to a high contrast for alternative processes I would recommend a 2+1+100 dilution, or even 3+2+100. The higher percentage of A solution, which is the reducer, will tend to minimize B+F or general stain.

Sandy King

Sandy, do you think I should switch to Pyrocat MC?

[sanking]

Sandy, do you think I should switch to Pyrocat MC?

Phillipe,

Pyrocat-HD and -MC are both general purpose developers that give good results with most films and types of agitation. All things being equal -MC gives a tad bit more acutance than -HD. If you like a creamy tonality with LF film, I would recommend -HD, if what you are after is a bit more bite go with -MC.

I base my decision on whether to use one or the other based on the type of agitation. With -HD I use normal or minimal agitation, with -MC I use rotary development with continuous agitation.

Sandy King

[Philippe Grunchec]

Thanks, Sandy. As I never use rotary agitation, I think I will stay with HD!

[hkcs]

Sandy,


I mixed some Pyrocat-HDC and -MC this evening, so I read the mixing instruction before on Pyrocat-HD.com. The recipe of the HD version mentions 2g/l of potassium-bromide, if it is mixed in water, 1g/l if it's mixed in glycol, and there is none in the HDC version in glycol. Is this intentional?

[sanking]

Sandy,


I mixed some Pyrocat-HDC and -MC this evening, so I read the mixing instruction before on Pyrocat-HD.com. The recipe of the HD version mentions 2g/l of potassium-bromide, if it is mixed in water, 1g/l if it's mixed in glycol, and there is none in the HDC version in glycol. Is this intentional?

Yes, it is intentional. The ascorbic acid in the HDC version renders the bromide superfluous. But 1 g/l of bromide won't change much in case you already added it.

Sandy King

[hkcs]

Sandy,

Thank you for the quick reply! I left the bromide out as I can put it in any time, if needed. And what about the 1g difference between the water and glycol version of -HD?

hkcs