vizzo
Hello,
I’ve bought some warm-tone paper from Bergger. I develop my prints in a darkroom that normally uses Agfa Neutol or Ilford ID-11 developer. My question is whether I can achieve the warm tone with these developers, or whether I need to use a special developer to achieve this brown effect. Can this brown effect be achieved with Dokumol? If not, which developers can I use?
Kind regards,
David
Gast
Hi David!
ID-11 is n o t a paper developer; it’s used to develop film …
And: Dokumol is n o t a warm-tone developer!
You achieve the warm tone (with bromide-silver emulsions, i.e. ‘warm-tone papers’) using a special warm-tone developer, e.g. Agfa Neutol WA; Amaloco also makes one, as does Moersch, etc. Usually, this produces either a warm image tone that leans slightly towards green or brown. Generally speaking, the image tone on warm-tone papers can be controlled much better via the developer. Cool tones, too, are better achieved with special cool-tone developers (e.g. LP Brom 3, Moersch Cold, etc.) on warm-tone papers (and not, as one might expect, on neutral- and cool-tone papers, which react much less well to different developers).
Personally, I have so far really enjoyed using Forte Polywarmtone or Agfa MCC111 for processing with Agfa Neutol WA – both will soon be discontinued (remaining stocks are still being sold, but BEWARE! – the prices, at least for the paper, are far inflated due to market speculation.
Our host here has not only beautiful warm-tone papers but also a whole range of suitable developers!
Best regards, Johannes
Roman
Johannes, why is Forte Polywarmtone soon to be discontinued?
David, most warm-tone papers (such as your Bergger, which is also made by Forte) tend to turn a slightly olive-green colour in standard warm-tone developers (that’s the classic shade usually described as ‘warm black’). For brown tones, a subsequent sepia or selenium toner is recommended.
However, there are also special developers (e.g. from Moersch) that produce brown tones directly.
Roman
WHZ
What do you mean by "both will soon be gone" – were you referring to the Forte, or just the Agfa with Neutol? Neutol might still be available if a&o thinks it makes sense.
Best wishes,
Wolfgang :angry:
MirkoBoeddecker
Specifically:
Moersch Warm
Moersch Sepia
Moersch Separol WA
Tetenal Variospeed W
Fomatol
Agfa Neutol WA (where currently available).
As an alternative to Forte or Bergger: ADOX Polywarmton.
Pay attention to the development time/temperature for warm-tone papers!
If you don’t keep these constant, the tonal range will shift and the images will look different.
Best regards,
Mirko
vizzo
Hello,
First of all, thank you. So does that mean that if I use a different developer, as shown here, this warm tone won’t have any effect?
Kind regards
Gast
Roman,
Of course I was referring to MCC111 and the Neutol developer, not the Forte paper; hopefully that’ll be around for a long time to come!
Best regards, Johannes
Gast
So does that mean that if I use a different developer, as shown here, this warm tone won’t have any effect?
It does. Every combination of paper and developer produces slightly different results.
So warm-tone paper will look different in a neutral-tone developer than cold-tone paper in the same developer.
But if you want a noticeable difference, use one of the ones Mirko mentioned.
Regards
Martin
Wolfgg
Vizzo: It’s best to start by gaining some experience with the combinations Mirko mentioned. You can then experiment on your own later. For example, I really like using Polywarmtone with a neutral developer; that produces a subtle warm tone.
