Need Vit C film developer formulas and help

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The Jul/Aug '96 Photo Techniques has on pg 68 a Patrick Gainer formula for a phenidone/vitamin C developer. It refers to an article by Gainer in the Nov/Dec '94 issue called "Non-Chromogenic Antiscorbutic Developers for Black-and-White." However, this issue is "sold out." Anyone know where I can get a copy of this article?

I also wonder if anyone has tried Gainers formulas as an XTOL equivalent? It sure would be nice to be able to mix this one after Kodak changes/discontinues it someday, if I end up using it. I'm going to mix the single formula given in the '96 issue and try it on the 4 X 5 Tmax's next week. Real easy once the stock solutions are made up, and plenty cheap enough for one-shot use.

Any comments, experience, feedback on this project would be very appreciated. Thanks, Todd.

-- Todd Foster (TFo2406132@aol.com), December 31, 1999

Answers

I have all the back-issues to 1983. E-mail me and I will try to find the one you want.

-- (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), January 03, 2000.

Kodak has published the formula for Xtol as part of its patent 5853964. Kodak supplies Xtol quite inexpensively, which you will discover when you add up the prices of the individual components.

This is taken directly from the patent:

Part A (Dry Formulation) Sodium sulfite 10 g Diethylenetriaminepenta- 1 g acetic acid, pentasodium salt Sodium metaborate (8 mol) 4.0 g 4-Hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-1- 0.2 g phenyl-3-pyrazolidone

Part B (Dry Formulation): Sodium sulfite 75 g Sodium metabisulfite, 3.5 g Sodium isoascorbate 12 g ______________________________________

-- Jonathan Borden (jborden@mediaone.net), January 06, 2000.


Thanks for the help. I see that Xtol has a lot of Sodium Sulfite. One of the interesting things about the Gainer formula is that it has none. Formula follows, any comments on it's possible virtues? Sulfite is supposed to be "a silver solvent" and thereby result in fine apparant grain. Does anyone know how true this old maxim remains with Tmax material? I now have the ingredients, and will mix it as soon as I can and see what it looks like on the Tmaxes. Seems like it's got to be way different than Xtol, and with a short shelf life.

NaOH 10% solution 17ml Borax 6.1gms Ascorbic acid crystals 2.0 gms Phenidone 1% in isopropyl alcohol 2ml Water to 1 liter.

I just ordered Anchell's Film Developing Cookbook to see what he has in the Vit C/Phenidone class, if anything.

-- Todd Foster (ptoddf@aol.com), January 20, 2000.


Are you sure this formula wasn't published in the April 1st edition?

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), January 24, 2000.

Here is an XTOL equivalent http://www.jetcity.com/~mrjones/mytol.htm

Mytol Film Developer (Xtol Substitute)

Paul Lewis suggests this developer can be used as you would packaged Kodak Xtol. The negatives developed with this formula are comparable to those developed in Xtol, with no discernable difference.

STOCK SOLUTION A Chemical Amount Units Distilled Water 750 ml Sodium Sulfite 60 g Sodium Metaborate 4 g Sodium Ascorbate* 13 g Phenidone 0.15 g Sodium Metabisulfite 3 g Distilled water to make 1000 ml

*130 ml of Sodium Ascorbate (10% Solution) may be used in place of 10 g of Sodium Ascorbate.

Sodium Ascorbate (10% Solution) Chemical Amount Units Distilled Water 750 ml Sodium Bicarbonate 88.9 g Ascorbic Acid 42.4 g Distilled water to make 1000 ml

USAGE Directions for dilutions to equal Xtol diluted 1+1 or 1+2 at 680F/200C.

REFERENCE Mytol Film Developer (Xtol Substitute), Paul Lewis. Mytol, The Film Developing Cookbook, Stephen G. Anchell and Bill Troop, p. 89.

-- Wayne (wsteffen@mr.net), February 19, 2000.



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