Re: [Leica] was (Introducing Johnny Deadman) now Split Developers??

["Dan Post" <dwpost@email.msn.com>]

Mark-
I made a mistake in my last post- use POTASSIUM BROMIDE, not iodide as a
restrainer!!!!
If the film you use comes out muddy, that's when to add the Bromide!
Also- You can still get Diafine- I got some for my son earlier this year!
Dan

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Saturday, September 11, 1999 9:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] was (Introducing Johnny Deadman) now Split Developers??


> Bob Keene/Karen Shehade wrote:
> >
> > Showing my ignorance....
> >
> > what is the process for "split D-76"? Or "split developers"?
> ><Snip>
> A split developer is where you take the Borax or the Carbonate; the Alkali
out
> of the rest of the formula and you use it as a second bath. 3 or 4 minutes
each.
>  After the film absorbs all the developing agent it is "activated" by the
alkali
> in the second bath as a developer needs alkali to work. So you get this
> incredibly compensating effect. Not the cleanest negs but certainly the
fastest.
> Highlights that will not block up no matter what. Shadows that are very
strong.
> You can use the first bath over and over till the cows come home way after
it
> turns ugly.
> Developing times tend to be unified. You put all you films in the same
tank and
> run it.
> Temperature is not critical, throw away that thermometer.
> But again the negs are in some ways very easy to print in others too
muddy.
> Depends on subject matter. Worth a go. I used them between '82 and '84.
Not
> great for white backdrop work as the white doesn't drop out like it would
need
> to. If anything is going to give you more real film speed it is this
developing
> method. If i recall on the can of diafine it says to use Tri x at 800 but
it's
> been a decade or two since I've last seen a can. Dignam has a Diafine
substitute.
> Mark Rabiner