Radu Diaconu , Nov 13, 2005; 07:50 p.m.
Hi,
I would like to know if anyone of you has used Kodak D-19 with films
other than TP - like TRI-X for example or any othe film.
I'm trying to find some developping times for these films, but have
not been able to find anything - or any other films with D-19 except
TP and whatever is in the Massive Dev.Chart.
I would appreciate any feedback on this.
Thank you.
Regards,
Radu D.
Michael Briggs 
, Nov 13, 2005; 08:18 p.m.
What contrast are you aiming for? D-19 is most appropriate for higher than normal contrast.
Radu Diaconu , Nov 13, 2005; 09:03 p.m.
Hi Michael,
I'm actually for high contrast, I know that D-19 is a contratsy developer and that's exactly why I intend to use it.
Thanks again.
Any suggestions?
Michael Standing , Nov 14, 2005; 05:41 p.m.
Radu,
I use D-19 routinly with Kodak 4489 electron microscope film. I understand it to be a high contrast developer primarily used for scientific films, but it does have other uses. I use the developer mixed 1:2 with water for 4 minutes with this film. I looked in my book "Photographic Chemicals and Solutions" by Crabtree and Matthews and it indicates developer D-19 to be used without dilution, develop 3 to 6 minutes in a tray at 65 degrees F. according to the contrast desired. Increase the time about 25% for tank development. I also looked on the massive development chart and it seems to indicate that developing for 6 minutes at 68 degrees F. is appropriate for most of the films indicated. I think I would do several snip tests starting around 4 to 6 minutes at 68 degrees F. and try to dial in the development desired. A word of caution - the instructions that come with the Kodak 4489 electron microscope film indicate that excessive development time (in this case >4 min.) will result in significant increase of film grain.
Good luck
Mike
Radu Diaconu , Nov 14, 2005; 09:54 p.m.
Thank you all for your comments.
I will do some tests and check it out. I'll come back on this.
Thank you.
Chris Wetherill , Nov 15, 2005; 04:33 p.m.
> ...a high contrast developer primarily used for scientific films...
I used to use D-19 a lot with astronomical emulsions, where it was the standard soup. 4 mins at 68°F was typical. I believe D-19 was thought to develop to completion (though I don't know if that was true), meaning you don't get more contrast beyond a certain length of time. It's a high sulfite developer, so longer times using it undiluted should result in silver solvency according to theory -- meaning silver grains dissolving and getting smaller, though I don't know what the actual truth is.
If you want even more activity than D-19 can deliver, I'd suggest trying to "nitro" it by adding some NaOH (lye) to it to increase its pH. Stock D-19 should have a pH right around 12.0, which is high by the standards of "regular" developers, but not as high as you can go! You could also boost contrast by adding more hydroquinone if you have some available.
