The Darkroom Cookbook 5th Edition

[MattKing]

Amazon's automatic re-directing systems help ensure that customers end up on their own local version of Amazon. Unfortunately they don't play well with Photrio.

This is the link I got on Amazon for the 5th Edition Pre-ordered -

https://www.amazon.com.au/Darkroom-Cookbook-Steve-Anchell/dp/1032404884

Of note - that takes you to Amazon Australia.
Here is the Canadian version: https://www.amazon.ca/Darkroom-Cookbook-Steve-Anchell-dp-1032404868/dp/1032404868

This may work for the US version, but check it first: https://www.amazon.com/Darkroom-Cookbook-Steve-Anchell-dp-1032404868/dp/1032404868

 

[Steve Anchell]

You're most welcome, Mr. Anchell.
I'm sorry to say, I edited that three times before I got it to stop trying to fetch media (the book cover, most likely) and failing. Apologies that my final effort before giving up left you all with a link to the Australian Amazon outlet. Just switch out the domain locale to your own country's code i.e..com, .co.uk, .de, etc if the site doesn't offer to switch country for you.

 

[Steve Anchell]

Amazon's automatic re-directing systems help ensure that customers end up on their own local version of Amazon. Unfortunately they don't play well with Photrio.


Of note - that takes you to Amazon Australia.
Here is the Canadian version: https://www.amazon.ca/Darkroom-Cookbook-Steve-Anchell-dp-1032404868/dp/1032404868
This may work for the US version, but check it first: https://www.amazon.com/Darkroom-Cookbook-Steve-Anchell-dp-1032404868

It does work for the US version, Matt. Thank you.

 

[Don_ih]

My only question would be: is there any reason to buy a new edition of this book if you already have any of the other editions? It seems that any additional information (i.e., not in previous editions) would either be too esoteric or readily available from any number of websites.

 

[MattKing]

It does work for the US version, Matt. Thank you.

Unfortunately, if I try to check that from here in Canada, it sends me back to the Canadian Amazon!

 

[Molli]

Amazon's automatic re-directing systems help ensure that customers end up on their own local version of Amazon. Unfortunately they don't play well with Photrio.


Of note - that takes you to Amazon Australia.
Here is the Canadian version: https://www.amazon.ca/Darkroom-Cookbook-Steve-Anchell-dp-1032404868/dp/1032404868

This may work for the US version, but check it first: https://www.amazon.com/Darkroom-Cookbook-Steve-Anchell-dp-1032404868/dp/1032404868

My original post had the U.S., Australia and the U.K. links and I stripped out the code trying to embed media.
I don't know how/why it decided to ditch the other two addresses along the way.
I offer my usual excuse - it's 20 past 9 in the morning here and I'm about ready to head to bed (in other words, my brain just fell out! ) 'night all!

 

[Steve Anchell]

My only question would be: is there any reason to buy a new edition of this book if you already have any of the other editions? It seems that any additional information (i.e., not in previous editions) would either be too esoteric or readily available from any number of websites.

Good question, Don_ih, and one I would ask.

If you are using the second edition with the green cover, I would burn it and buy the fifth edition. When I wrote the second edition, I did not realize the importance of having knowledgeable editors and relied on hacks from Focal Press.

The fifth edition has been edited by both Ian Grant and Bill Troop. Not only have there been numerous corrections, but the information has been brought up-to-date to align with the current understanding of film, paper, and chemistry. Outdated formulas have been removed and new formulae added or corrected. The chapter on enlarging digital negatives has been entirely rewritten by me in a way that is easy to understand and follow. The alternative process section has two new chapters and updated information, including a chapter on creating a silver emulsion written by Mark Osterman. I have expanded the discussion on fine grain vs. high acutance film developers, and which to use to achieve the results you are after. There is more, but that is all I can think of now.

Knowing the third and fourth editions as well as I do, I would opt for the 5th edition.

 

[Kino]

For buyers in North America, you can pre-order from Routledge Press directly after October 1, 2024.

The Darkroom Cookbook

The fifth edition of this comprehensive guide to darkroom photography is fully revised and updated, placing analog and traditional methods into the context of a digital world and contemporary workflows. Including invaluable analog photography techniques, chemicals, and equipment, supported by...

www.routledge.com

 

[bluechromis]

In previous editions, you talked about the need to have an adequate volume of developer. The amount you suggest is more than many people have been accustomed to and more than some believe manufactuers recommend. This advice has been beneficial for me. But when I mention it to others, they are sometimes skeptical and ask about the evidence for the larger volume. You referred to research by Kodak that found using the larger amount gave better results. If you could give some kind of citation for that research, it would be helpful. By the way, thank you for making a new version of the book.

 

[bluechromis]

Since the previous editions, some environmental concerns have become more prominent. One is concern about borates in chemistry. I think this may be a regulatory concern in Europe. For example, Adox reformulated its Xtol clone sans borates. Even those not living in Europe may wish to avoid borates to reduce environmental damage. If you could include suggestions on alternatives to borates and how to rework recipes to avoid borates, it would be helpful.

 

[Don_ih]

Not only have there been numerous corrections, but the information has been brought up-to-date to align with the current understanding of film, paper, and chemistry.

That's good. I know Ian Grant has done an immense amount of work finding the most reliable sources for older formulas and has paid close attention to the mistakes that have been propagated through unit conversions (and back again). It's also good to be up to date with currently available film and paper - paper, in particular, is not impacted by varying developer as much as it used to.

As @bluechromis mentioned, it can be difficult to get certain things in certain places (for whatever reason), so as comprehensive a list of substitutions as possible would be helpful.

 

[moggi1964]

Good question, Don_ih, and one I would ask.

If you are using the second edition with the green cover, I would burn it and buy the fifth edition. When I wrote the second edition, I did not realize the importance of having knowledgeable editors and relied on hacks from Focal Press.

The fifth edition has been edited by both Ian Grant and Bill Troop. Not only have there been numerous corrections, but the information has been brought up-to-date to align with the current understanding of film, paper, and chemistry. Outdated formulas have been removed and new formulae added or corrected. The chapter on enlarging digital negatives has been entirely rewritten by me in a way that is easy to understand and follow. The alternative process section has two new chapters and updated information, including a chapter on creating a silver emulsion written by Mark Osterman. I have expanded the discussion on fine grain vs. high acutance film developers, and which to use to achieve the results you are after. There is more, but that is all I can think of now.

Knowing the third and fourth editions as well as I do, I would opt for the 5th edition.

Steve, I will be ordering the 5th Edition (I don't have any versions as I am pretty new to developing) but does Ian have a pre-production copy by chance? I might ask to see next time I pop in if so .

 

[rayban]

Preorder queued on my wishlist! Thank you for the posting and info.

 

[Steve Anchell]

Steve, I will be ordering the 5th Edition (I don't have any versions as I am pretty new to developing) but does Ian have a pre-production copy by chance? I might ask to see next time I pop in if so .

I don't believe Ian has a fully corrected edition. He would have various markup versions but that would not do much good. Also, Ian edited certain parts of the MS, Bill worked on others, and a few areas they both worked on. I am the only one, to my knowledge, that has the full edition, which I am currently making the first round of proof corrections to.

 

[moggi1964]

I don't believe Ian has a fully corrected edition. He would have various markup versions but that would not do much good. Also, Ian edited certain parts of the MS, Bill worked on others, and a few areas they both worked on. I am the only one, to my knowledge, that has the full edition, which I am currently making the first round of proof corrections to.

Okay, I guess I'll just have to come to your house then

Looking forward to the release. Thanks for continuing to do this work, Steve.

 

[Steve Anchell]

Okay, I guess I'll just have to come to your house then

Looking forward to the release. Thanks for continuing to do this work, Steve.

As long as you bring the pizza.

 

[beemermark]

Knowing the third and fourth editions as well as I do, I would opt for the 5th edition.

I have the forth edition in book form and used it for a number of years. Out of curiosity (to see how much difference) I bought the fifth version in the Kindle format. The fifth is far superior but I don't really care for the digital format. I'll be buying the sixth version in book form. Couldn't the publisher just print it in single sheets and have holes punched for a loose leaf binder? Then you could sell a fancy binder separate. Just an idea.

BTW, my first darkroom cookbook was the The Compact Photo Lap Index by Morgan & Morgan, published 1979. Still interesting reading.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Where and how can this book be bought in Europe (preferable in the EEC)?

 

[Don_ih]

Out of curiosity (to see how much difference) I bought the fifth version in the Kindle format. The fifth is far superior but I don't really care for the digital format.

The 5th edition is what he's working on now, though. Maybe you had the 3rd ed. and bought the 4th ed. digital version?

 

[Keith Tapscott.]

How about inviting someone like Chris Woodhouse, Richard Ross and Nicholas Lindan to write a chapter about the merits of enlarging meters in case anyone is interested in buying one.
That's if they don't mind of course.

 

[Kino]

Where and how can this book be bought in Europe (preferable in the EEC)?

I have since noticed a "pull-down" menu on the Routledge website I referenced in posting #33,

Hopefully, the will have a representative in your, or a near, country...

The Darkroom Cookbook

The fifth edition of this comprehensive guide to darkroom photography is fully revised and updated, placing analog and traditional methods into the context of a digital world and contemporary workflows. Including invaluable analog photography techniques, chemicals, and equipment, supported by...

www.routledge.com

 

[Steve Anchell]

How about inviting someone like Chris Woodhouse, Richard Ross and Nicholas Lindan to write a chapter about the merits of enlarging meters in case anyone is interested in buying one.
That's if they don't mind of course.

Great idea, Keith. Unfortunately, I am in the production stage with the publisher. I am going to try and squeeze a short piece in about LED bulbs, if the publisher approves. Adding a few paragraphs, much less a new chapter, is going to be a sales job on my part.

 

[bluechromis]

I recall reading in your blog that Bill T. said that phenidone cannot be preserved in any kind of percent solution, alcohol, glycol or other. It will inevitably lose activity. I believe he said the only solution was to buy it fresh and use it fresh using a microgram scale. This was quite a surprise to me, and I think it would be for others as well. If you could shed any light on this in the book, it would be helpful.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

I have since noticed a "pull-down" menu on the Routledge website I referenced in posting #33,

Hopefully, the will have a representative in your, or a near, country...

View attachment 373746

The Darkroom Cookbook

The fifth edition of this comprehensive guide to darkroom photography is fully revised and updated, placing analog and traditional methods into the context of a digital world and contemporary workflows. Including invaluable analog photography techniques, chemicals, and equipment, supported by...

www.routledge.com

Thank you Kino, but I think this is sold in- and will ship from the UK (prices mentioned in £), which involves absurd high import taxes, thanks to the Brexit, which I refuse to pay out of principle...

I was looking for an EEC based dealer, but thank you anyway.

 

[Steve Anchell]

I recall reading in your blog that Bill T. said that phenidone cannot be preserved in any kind of percent solution, alcohol, glycol or other. It will inevitably lose activity. I believe he said the only solution was to buy it fresh and use it fresh using a microgram scale. This was quite a surprise to me, and I think it would be for others as well. If you could shed any light on this in the book, it would be helpful.

Bluechromis, I do not know which blog you are referring to. However, this is something you would need to ask Bill directly. I believe he is on this forum. If not, you can reach him through the Darkroom Cookbook Forum, www.darkroomcookbook.com, either through a post or a private message.