Best all round paper developer

[thisispants]

Hi, sorry for the absurdly subjective question.

I've just bought a durst enlarger and all the gear, very excited!

Can anyone reccomend a good paper developer for Ilford MGRC paper.

Thanks!

[JimO]

i'm a dektol fan

[RPC]

Dektol is good. If you mix your own chemistry from scratch, I would try Ansco 130.

RPC

[brucemuir]

I'll third Dektol if you are OK mixing powders
it not
Ilford MultiGrade or Universal if you MUST have a liquid concentrate.

These are good to get you started.

[thisispants]

What are the advantages of powder developers?

I've used D76 many times for developing film.... same principal or is it harder to mix powders for paper?

[brucemuir]

I read your post as you were just starting.
If you have mixed D76 you will have no problem.

Some prefer liquid because you can mix a small amount at a time but it is more costly to ship liquid.

[thisispants]

Sorry, I've been developing my own film and scanning, I'm just about to start proper darkroom printing.

Fantastic.

With Dektol, how long does the developer last once made up? Can you use dektol for multiple sessions?

[brucemuir]

If you want good tray life I think the better bet is an ansco 130 formula.

Photographers Formulary sells a kit.

Dektol stored in a reasonable manner will have keeping properties similar to D76.
perhaps better than D76

[thisispants]

Ok, cool, thanks for the tip.

So essentially you make up Dektol, use for the session and then discard?

[brucemuir]

Well I make a gallon of STOCK solution from the yellow Kodak envelope.
Then you dilute that Stock solution to a WORKING solution (immediately before printing session) depending on what look you are after.

There is more info regarding dilution here on apug and can inform you better than I.

If I run a short session and don't use say that 1-2 litre of WORKING solution I just diluted I will sometimes save it for tomorrow for contact sheets if blacks aren't super critical.
Once the STOCK solution is diluted to WORKING solution it doesn't keep as well so you will ultimately be the judge on how far you want to stretch it.