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Old 20th December 2016, 11:45 AM
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Default Diluting print developer

Robert Grasing , Apr 15, 2007; 09:37 p.m.
Generally, diluting paper developer does not change paper contrast, only paper speed. That is, if you dilute your developer and extend developing time, you get the same contrast. Richard Henry did experiments on this in his book Controls in Black & White Photography, but it is also mentioned in older Kodak publications and Phil Davis's books. BTW, using developer undiluted does not make for stronger blacks and higher contrast. It does, however, really increase paper speed. As others have already written, if you dilute too much, the blacks never really fully develop. And with some paper/developer combinations, the print may look slightly warmer or cooler.

However, diluting the developer may change tonal distribution (ie, the paper curve) slightly, even though overall contrast remains the same. Some papers respond to this, others not at all.

As always, try it and see what you think.
Read this on photo net, have you found this to be true ?
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Old 20th December 2016, 12:06 PM
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An old and very well tried use of undiluted developer was to locally increase density. This was done (I still do) by using a 1/2" paintbrush and brush over undiluted developer over areas a highlight that need to be toned down a little. The effect is very subtle and slight but it can be the saviour of a print that would otherwise be consigned to the bin.

The technique is to develop the print fully as per normal then remove it from the developer and rnse it in plain water and with a bit of kitchen roll wipe the area you want to work on the remove excess moisture. Paint on the neat developer and let it 'cook' for a minute or so.

The same can be done with areas that are too dense, i.e. little detail in the negatives. expose the print for the time you know will get good mid-tones, then just remove it from the developer before that stage is reached, when the developer will continue working on those mid tonal areas, but sometimes quite dramatically slow down in dense shadows. Again quite a simple way of dealing with a negative with hight contrasts and save re-printing.

It needs practise but it does work.

Last edited by John King; 20th December 2016 at 12:11 PM.
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Old 21st December 2016, 05:19 PM
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Where the developer is very diluted it is suggested that you over expose the image so that the blacks fully develop.
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Old 21st December 2016, 11:23 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GoodOldNorm View Post
Robert Grasing , Apr 15, 2007; 09:37 p.m.
Generally, diluting paper developer does not change paper contrast, only paper speed.
I would question that statement, as with Ilford Multigrade developer I find that increased developer concentration will increase contrast on VC papers.

Last edited by cliveh; 21st December 2016 at 11:31 PM.
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