Pyro stain color and VC papers

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

Hi all, I have been using Pyrocat-HD with FP4 and getting great results. Nice and sharp, highlights print like a dream. I know this is a PYROCATECHIN developer and that it produces a brown stain which plays nice with my Ilford MG paper and gives great highlights. I have dev times that consistently produce negs that print right at Grades 2-3.

How does the more green stain of PYROGALLOL print on VC papers? I was thinking of trying 510-Pyro or Uno but I don't want to get into it if the green stain doesn't work with VC paper. Thanks for your feedback.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I used to use Rollo back in the 90's and didn't like the look I was getting (with HP5). Been using Pyrocat-HD for many years, and have been very happy. It's also fantastic for semi-stand development. Why switch if you're happy with your results?

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

Why switch if you're happy with your results?

That's a very good question! I probably shouldn't switch at all. Guess I'm just curious. I can't imagine I could wring any incremental improvements out of a new developer, other than maybe ease of mixture and use.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I've tried quite a few pyro options, and have even cooked up a couple of tweaks of my own; but my standby is PMK from pyrogallol, with its yellow-green stain. Very little difference in practical VC application from brown-green Pyrocat stain, including split printing. The grain comes out a little smoother with certain films than with Pyrocat. FP4 results will be similar. PMK is a great developer in terms of shelf life of the two concentrates, tray usage, and hand inversion drum usage. I don't recommend it for aggressive rotary drum processing.