Stand Development with DD-X was a disappointment

[snusmumriken]

Hi Molte,

I can't remember if I mentioned this earlier, but DD-X at a 1+9 dilution is not very dilute - it's just half as strong as the recommended dilution, so by analogy think D-76 (ID-11) at 1+1 versus 1+0. Typically when people resort to stand/semi-stand/extreme minimal whatever, developers are relatively highly diluted. With normal agitation DD-X 1+9 will probably develop Delta 100 normally in roughly 12 minutes (and including a pre-wash will accelerate this further), so if you're going to give much longer development times (even with no agitation) you need a significantly more dilute DD-X. It's also worth noting DD-X might not be the best candidate for that type of processing. The "theory" (usually incorrect but that's another matter) of long development times with reduced agitation is typically for developers that begin with a non-solvent formulation (low concentrations of developing agent(s) and sulfite, relatively high alkalinity with weak buffering).

On the subject of speeds, when people refer to alleged speed increases/decreases they should really refer to them as Exposure Indexes. Nobody is getting anywhere near ISO 200 from an ISO 100 film.

Regarding two-solution/divided development, below are some curves. Some of it is for Stoeckler's two-bath (which was one of the first of these) but the D-23 version(s) including Thornton are only trivially different. Some general results:

-Full emulsion speed (ISO or "box") is reached
-pH and concentration of second bath is largely irrelevant in the context of macro-sensitometry, borax being as effective as metaborate. Carbonate can increase emulsion speed very slightly but also increases fog
-Since the first bath is a fully functioning developer, development time in the first bath is how you control contrast
-Divided development tends to straighten the characteristic curve, and shortens the toe/shoulder

View attachment 369489

@Milpool: I, for one, found that exceptionally helpful. Many thanks!

 

[Molte]

Thank you Milpool. That was most informative. I have actually been using Metaborate and not Borax, but it seems that this does not make much difference.

I went to back to the source of my Thornton recipe (“The Edge of darkness”). In that book he mentions Phenidone as the main ingredient in DD-X, FX39, Microphen and T-max developers. For various reasons, these developers are not suited for stand development. Thornton praises Metol, and suggests either (a) dilute development in Perceptol or (b) Stoeckler 2-bath, which he has altered slightly.

In his book, Thornton suggests using various amounts of Metaborate in bath B as a way to handle high and/or low contrast. But it seems that the development in Bath A is more significant.

I did a last test of some FP4+ and Foma 100.

I got

* 120 FP4+ at EI 80 in 2-bath. Over the next 2 weeks I will be photographing in sun and high contrast, so I think I will reduce the time in bath A to 4 minutes and rate the FP4+ at 64.

* 120 Foma 100 at EI 25 in 2-bath.

* 120 Foma 100 at EI 80 in Rodinal 1:100 for 60 minutes where I emptied out the developer and poured it back in at half-time. I did not prewash, and the dye from the film polluted my stop and fixer with green colors. In general, I will stick with the Ilford films going forward.

For now, I will expose Ilford films at half-speed and develop in the Metol-based 2-bath. I like the very straight curves that Milpool demonstrated.

No more DD-X for me.

 

[snusmumriken]

Posted from the land that gave us Monty Python and their wonderful "Ministry of Silly Walks".

Matt, we have no actual need for invention. In my local town there is an annual race up the steepest bit carrying a 55lb cheese, usually in the rain. This was three days ago:

 

[MattKing]

Who gets to eat the cheese?

 

[BrianShaw]

Hopefuly it's "to the victor go the spoils"! I'm not sure I'd want to be Victor, though.

 

[chuckroast]

Matt, we have no actual need for invention. In my local town there is an annual race up the steepest bit carrying a 55lb cheese, usually in the rain. This was three days ago:
View attachment 369936

I just HAVE to ask ... as they were running toward the camera, did you tell them, "Say cheese!" ?