Problems [maybe] with WD2D+

[sk_arts]

Mr. Wimberly, if you're still out there...

 

I am having a bit of unexpected results with WD2D+ Pyro/Metol

developer. It seems that no matter what I do, my result are always a

rich olive green... well, I've processed three rolls so far... all

olive green.

 

Here is what I am doing, presoak in working solution of photo flow

and distilled water. 600:12:12 WD2D+ in distilled water. Water stop

in charcoal-filtered water. Fix using TF4 (smells a unusually strong,

almost like hair dye, but, does fix properly... tempted to throw it

away).

 

All washes come out clear, and now I am using distilled water my fix

comes out clear. The negatives, a very pleasing, unless using

multigrade paper, olive green! My exposure times are in the 30's at

f/11 and I require a 4 filter or higher to get maximum black!

 

Water off tap consists of unusual amounts of calcium and flourine. Is

it possible that the tap water used in the water stop be changing the

dye mask retroactively? Could my smelly fix be causing an unexpected

reaction? Should I give up?

 

Thanks!

[sk_arts]

PS- otherwise there are no real suprises, the negatives are sharp and the grain is well defined, much better than in D76.

[tim obrien]

Well, the only thing you do different is not using the recommended pre-bath. I don't think that will turn your film green. TF-4 is pretty cheap to use, I would make up another quart and try that. Nothing like fresh fix to make your process simpler, I say. Why are you using tap water for the stop? 600mls of distilled water is about 15 cents in my neighborhood.

 

TF-4 going bad smells like ammonia. Strong ammonia.

 

What film are you using?

 

tim in san jose

[jim_appleyard]

#1, Don't presoak with a pyro developer.

#2, Pyro developers are stainging developers. the negs should look olive green.

#3 Use distilled water with any pyro dev.

#4 Are you diluting your fixer properly?

 

Hope these suggestions help.

[john_wimberley]

Shawn, I'm still out here! It sounds to me like the problem is the old TF-4 fixer. I don't recommend using TF-4 with WD2D+ or other pyro developers because aerial fog (which is green!)can form during the wash. Instead, try using an acid stop and acid fixer. The reason is that with a plain water stop bath and TF-4, the film remains in an alkaline state through the whole process. Although reduction of silver may stop, the formation of dyes continues through the wash, and oxygen in the wash water can produce green aerial staining fog. This problem, according to my tests, isn't limited to WD2D+. Also, with WD2D+, acid stop and fixers won't remove any of the desirable staining (dye mask), so you don't need to worry about that.

Let me know if this solves your problem. My email address is: tjwimberley@commspeed.net.