It appears that the recommended developing time for Kodak's Polycontrast III RC paper with Dektol (1:2) is 1 minute. Is this a good starting approximation (time and dilution) for developing Ilford's Multigrade IV RC paper? Thanks

-- Arnie Milowsky (arniemly@earthlink.net), July 13, 2000

Answers

Yes but I would develop for about 2 min to start with. If your blacks look "muddy" go to 3 min. If your print is darker than wanted, reduce your exposure. Cheers, Scott

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), July 13, 2000.

Ilford MG IV RC is a developer incorporated paper and comes up fast in the developer. As a matter of good practice, I will develop for at least 1 1/2 minutes to be sure the blacks are as black as they can get with RC. Its hard to over-develop prints. Extended development times may result in fogging of the highlights, but using a low level of safelight reduces this tendency.

-- Gene Crumpler (nikonguy@worldnet.att.net), July 13, 2000.

90 seconds seems to work well for me (@20 degrees).

-- Jim MacKenzie (photojim@yahoo.com), July 13, 2000.

Since paper is developed to completion, development time is not as critical as some would have you think. 1-2 minutes is fine for RC paper in 60 degree developer. For a reference, I put 1:2 Dektol in a heated tray to keep it at 75 deg. Using Agfa RC paper the image starts to come up in 10-15 sec., depending on how fresh the developer is. The image seems to be fully up at 30 sec., I pull the print from the tray at 1 minute. www.aseonline.net/~brownt

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), July 13, 2000.

I used Ilford Multigrade Paper Developer for many years (over 15) and after reading various comments about Dektol decided to give it a try, expecting wonderous results. So after mixing up into stock solution, letting it cool before I could use it, finding enough storage containers to keep it in, I did some back to back tests with my usual stuff. I don't think I could tell the difference between the two! It also seemed to iritate my nose so I didn't use any more for prints but tried it out on some films :) So, I'm back to old faithful and enjoying it :) Much easier to use and store IMO

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@eisa.net.au), July 13, 2000.

I develop MGIVRC in Dektol 1:2 for 90 sec. Full image,however, is visible in 60 sec but improves up to 90 sec. I don't see any difference after 90 sec.for contacts and proofs which is primarily what I use RC for.

-- Robert Orofino (rorofino@iopener.net), July 14, 2000.

In my post above I meant 68 deg., not 60 deg.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), July 14, 2000.

I'd recommend Ethol LPD for developing Ilford papers. At full strenght it gives excellent blacks. It is great for ocassional use as it will last about a year in a full bottle. I top-off the one gallon bottle with water after each session to exclude air.

And for me it does not irritate my hands as Dektol and Multigrade Grade Developer did.

-- Gene Crumpler (nikonguy@worldnet.att.net), July 14, 2000.

Ilford MG IV is NOT a developer incorporated paper. MG III was. One clue is that MG III was also labeled Rapid.

Check the Ilford data sheets on their web site.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), July 14, 2000.

I assumed that MG VI had a developer incorporated from my experiences with MG III and the fact that MG VI RC comes up very fast in the developer, compared to FG. I no longer use RC papers, only FB. I've got too many RC prints with spots on them after only 6-12 months of aging. I've got 45 year old FB prints that still look good.

-- Gene Crumpler (nikonguy@worldnet.att.net), July 17, 2000.

Read Ctein's "Post Exposure". Treat your RC prints with either Agfa Sistan or Selenium toner to prevent the problem.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), July 18, 2000.

Who is this Ctein guy anyway? (pronounced Stein, presumably) Has he taken any good pictures? Where have his prints been published? Who publishes "post exposure"? Our city library houses the photographic reference collection for the whole region, and they've never heard of Ctein.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), July 19, 2000.

I think its pronounced "kuh tan" Agree or not with his opinions its a a very interesting book. I think its available thru Calumet.

-- bill zelinski (willy226@yahoo.com), July 19, 2000.

Have a lock at ctein's homepage http://plaidworks.com/ctein/. A Chapter of his book is on his homepage

-- dominik (sehen99@gmx.ch), July 22, 2000.