Problem Ilford Multigrade Express and Neutol

quizzard87 · 2008-03-06T21:04:21+00:00

Hallo! Ich verwende für Papiervergrößerungen Ilford Multigrade Express Meterware (eigentlich für Maschinen gedacht, aber es geht, bzw. ging bis jetzt auch s...

quizzard87

Hello! For paper enlargements, I use Ilford Multigrade Express bulk developer (actually intended for machines, but it works – or at least it has so far). Ilford states that any ‘standard paper developer’ can be used. I developed the first few prints using Calbe N113 without any problems. Unfortunately, I recently ran out of developer and haven’t ordered a new one yet. So I bought a bottle of Agfa Neutol (neutral). Now for the problem: I’ve now developed three test strips using Neutol 1+7 for 60 seconds at 20°C. The first strip was very pale and had a strong brown tint. So I increased the exposure time for the other test strips. Always with the same result. Washed-out, brown prints! Admittedly a bit darker this time, but still not a single black spot on the paper. Is the Multigrade Express paper not compatible with Neutol? Why might it be that the whole thing works wonderfully with N114 but not with Neutol? Regards, Christian

MirkoBoeddecker

Hi Christian, Brownish tone, not black, with streaks. Is that right? It sounds very much like underdevelopment rather than underexposure. So set the exposure back to normal, develop for longer, increase the temperature, or use a less diluted solution. N113/Adotol Konstant is a strong developer. That’s how we market it, after all. Neutol 1+7 is obviously ‘weaker’ than N113/Adotol Konstant if you’ve kept everything else the same (time, temperature, agitation). In my experience, you’d need to perform dilution of Neutol to about 1+4 to get anywhere near the performance of N113/Adotol Konstant ;-) Incidentally, that also makes N113/Adotol Konstant more attractive price-wise compared to the various liquid concentrates (I just couldn’t resist that one). Regards, Mirko

quizzard87

Hi Mirko, First of all, thanks for the quick reply! By how much should I adjust the time for a 1+7 dilution, roughly? I tried developing for 90 seconds instead of 60 yesterday, but unfortunately I didn’t notice much of a difference. Best regards, Christian

cfb_de

Hello Christian, Could it be that your Neutol has gone flat? Or that you made a mistake when performing the dilution? I seem to recall that at 20°C and a 1+7 dilution, 60 seconds was quite sufficient for pretty much any PE paper, and my memory is entirely consistent with the data sheet (Agfa brochure) :-) Best regards, Franz

quizzard87

Well, my Neutol certainly wasn’t flat. I tried it again today with a 1:4 dilution and, lo and behold, it works. The packaging doesn’t mention a 1+4 dilution (1+7 at most), but apparently the Multigrade Express needs a slightly stronger solution to develop within normal times. Many thanks again for your replies! Best regards, Christian