These are developers that contain pyrogallol or pyrocatechol. The best-known ones are PMK, Pyrocat HD and MC, and Tanol. These developers not only produce silver in the image, but also create a colour mask (stain), which suppresses the uneven distribution of silver (‘grain’) and enables other special image effects. Search engines or Mr Moersch’s website can provide further help.
Thanks for the quick info, Wolfgang!
If these developers suppress grain by means of this colour mask, why would one develop low-speed films with them? I imagine that would look super-smooth, not to say ‘digital’, wouldn’t it?
Regards
Dieter
