Volume of Stock Solution B to be added, To further fine-tune the print, use Beers’ #2 and #3 or Beers’ #5 and #6, depending

upon the results from the above test.

1000
------- x 3 (from Beers’ Chart, #4) = 187.5 ml
16
DR. BEERS’ VC PAPER DEVELOPER PHOTOGRAPHERS' FORMULARY
CAT. NOS. 02-0120 & 02-0130 800-922-5255 PAGE 4
Volume of water to be added, Cat. no. 02-0120
Cat. no. 02-0130
1000

FORMULARY
PHOTOGRAPHERS'
------- x 8 (from Beers’ Chart, #4) = 500 ml
16
INC.
The total volume will be: P.O. Box 950 • Condon MT 59826 • 800-922-5255 • FAX 406-754-2896
E-mail: [email protected]
312.5 + 187.5 + 500 = 1000 ml
FORMULARY DR. BEERS’ VARIABLE CONTRAST PAPER
DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPER

A typical development run using Dr. Beers’ Developer would be as follows: Directions for mixing and using Formulary Dr. Beers’ Paper Developer, 1-liter size
(cat. no. 02-0120) and 2-liter size (cat. no. 02-0130).
Develop: 3 to 3.5 minutes
Dr. Roland F. Beers formulated his developer so that he could change print contrast
Stop: 30 seconds in acetic stop bath (cat. no. 03-0185) using a single type of paper. Today, Dr. Beers’ developer is extremely useful to fine-
Fix: 5 minutes in first bath of a two-bath fixer and 5 minutes in the tune the contrast of a print.
second bath. Use Formulary Fixer 24 (cat. no. 03-0010).
Wash: 1 minute in running water The range of contrast that can be obtained using the Dr. Beers’ developer is not
large. In terms of paper contrast grades, the variation is only about 1.5 paper grades.
Clear: 2-3 minutes using Formulary Hypo Clear Agent (catalog number
For example, a number two paper can be printed from about grade 1.25 to about
03-0165)
grade 2.75. However, any amount of contrast gradation within this range can be
Wash: 10-20 minutes in running water achieved by combining different proportions of the two stock solutions to obtain the
Ansel Adams gives an excellent and detailed description of the use of Dr. Beers’ working solution.
developer in his book “The Print”, pp. 60-65. In this method, the paper is exposed for Stock Solution A contains metol, a soft-working developer. When stock Solution A
the highlights and developed for the shadows. is used alone a low-contrast print is obtained. Stock Solution B contains
Three trays of Dr. Beers’ working solution are prepared. The first tray contains hydroquinone, a high contrast developer. When Stock Solution B is used alone, a
Beers’ #1; the second, Beers’ #4; and the third, Beers’ #7. high contrast print is obtained. Intermediate degrees of contrast are obtained by using
Expose a test strip and develop it in Beers’ #4. After the test strip has been fixed, various mixtures of Solutions A and B.
decide which exposure produced good clean highlights with some detail. Using this
exposure setting, expose a print and develop it in Beers’ #4. After fixing, view the CHEMICAL SAFETY
print and decide if the shadows are too light, too dark, or just right. All chemicals are dangerous and must be treated with respect. Please read the
If the shadows are too light, develop the next print in Beers’ #7. The shadows will be chemical warnings listed below, and on each package. Always use rubber gloves and
darker and the print will have more contrast. A slight decrease in exposure may be a dust mask when using chemicals.
necessary to keep the highlights clean.
If the shadows are too dark, develop the next print in Beers’ #1. A slight increase in HYDROQUINONE: Considered hazardous by EPA. It is considered a skin
exposure may be necessary to keep the detail in the highlights. sensitizer, and may cause eye or skin irritation. Please handle this liquid with
 gloves and splash goggles. If ingested or splashed in the eyes, contact a Sodium Carbonate, monohydrate 31.5 g 63 g
physician. Hydroquinone 8g 16 g
METOL: Some individuals become sensitized (develop allergic symptoms or Potassium Bromide 2.2 g 4.4 g
rashes) when using metol. If this should occur, discontinue use and consult a Cold distilled water to make 1000 ml 2000 ml
physician.
Dissolve each chemical in the order given. Be sure each chemical is completely
The user assumes all risks upon accepting these chemicals. IF FOR ANY REASON dissolved before the next is added to the solution. Finally, add cold water to the
YOU DO NOT WISH TO ASSUME ALL RISKS, PLEASE RETURN THE solution to bring its final volume up to 1000 ml (or 2000 ml)
CHEMICALS WITHIN 30 DAYS FOR A FULL REFUND.
LIFE OF THE SOLUTIONS
DR. BEERS’ VC PAPER DEVELOPER PHOTOGRAPHERS' FORMULARY
CAT. NOS. 02-0120 & 02-0130 800-922-5255 PAGE 1 Both stock solutions have a shelf life of 4-6 months in full and stoppered bottles. The
Please consult with local sewer and water authorities regarding the proper disposal of working solution has a tray life of 1 day.
darkroom chemicals in your area.
MIXING THE STOCK SOLUTION DR. BEERS’ VC PAPER DEVELOPER PHOTOGRAPHERS' FORMULARY
CAT. NOS. 02-0120 & 02-0130 800-922-5255 PAGE 2
You will need two dark brown bottles, each with a capacity of one liter (or 2 liters). USING THE DEVELOPER
Mixing the working solution:
Stock Solution A
Kit Size The working solution is prepared just prior to use and usually discarded after a
Chemical 1 liter 2 liters working session. The amounts of stock solution A, stock solution B, and water that
Water (52° C/125° F) 750 ml 1500 ml are combined are determined from the following chart.
Metol 8g 16 g ----------------------------- increasing contrast ----------------------------_
Sodium Sulfite, Anhydrous 23 g 46 g
Sodium Carbonate, monohydrate 23.4 g 46.8 g Solution Beers’ number *
Potassium Bromide 1.1 g 2.2 g #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7
Cold distilled water to make 1000 ml 2000 ml Parts of Stock Sol. A 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Parts of Stock Sol. B 0 1 2 3 4 5 14
FOR BEST RESULTS USE DISTILLED WATER.
Parts of water 8 8 8 8 8 8 0
Place the warm water in the storage container and add a pinch of sodium sulfite.
(This minimizes the initial oxidation of the metol. If more sulfite is added at this _-------------------------increasing softness --------------------------------
point, the metol will not dissolve.) Add the metol to the solution and stir (or cap and
shake the container) until all of the metol is dissolved. It is important that all of the *There is no relationship between a Beers’ number and the contrast grade of a paper.
metol be dissolved before the other chemicals are added. Add the sodium sulfite, stir You must select the contrast grade of paper that matches your negative and then use
(or cap and shake the container) until the solid dissolves. Add each chemical in the Dr. Beers’ developer to fine-tune the print. The Dr. Beers’ developer will only
order given in the table above. Be sure each chemical is completely dissolved before change the contrast 3/4 of a grade in either direction, either harder or softer from the
adding the next one to the solution. Finally, add cold water to the solution to bring its original paper grade.
final volume up to 1000 ml (or 2000 ml)
The Beers’ chart is given in terms of “parts”. A “part” is a method of expressing
Stock Solution A volumes. The following two examples show how the “parts” given in the Beers’
Kit Size chart can be used to mix specific volumes.
Chemical 1 liter 2 liters
Water (52° C/125° F) 750 ml 1500 ml
Sodium Sulfite, Anhydrous 23 g 46 g
Example 1: Mix Volumes Equal to the Number of Parts
Beers’ Solution #2, for example, contains 7 parts of Stock Solution A, 1 part Stock
Solution B, and 8 parts of water. Therefore, use 7 ml of A, 1 ml of B, and 8 ml of
water, or use 70 ml of A, 10 ml of B, and 80 ml of water, etc.

Example 2: Use the Beers’ Chart to Mix a Specific Volume of Working Solution

For example, prepare 1000 ml of Beers’ #4.

Use the following formula:

Final volume of solution desired x parts for that stock solution

16

Volume of Stock Solution A to be added,

1000
------- x 5 (from Beers’ Chart, #4) = 312.5 ml
16

DR. BEERS’ VC PAPER DEVELOPER PHOTOGRAPHERS' FORMULARY

CAT. NOS. 02-0120 & 02-0130 800-922-5255 PAGE 3