DARKROOM

FORMULAS
FAVORITE DARKROOM RECIPES
TO INSPIRE CREATIVITY
 2-3

Contents
Table of
D-72
Print Developer

4-5 Ansco 130

Print Developer

6-7 ID-62 (Ilford PQ)

Print Developer

7-8 ID-78 (Ilford WT)

Print Developer

9-10 GAF 135

Print Developer

13 D-76
Film Developer

14 Ansco 22
Film Developer

16 GAF-231 Gold Toner

Toners

17 Variable Sepia Toner

25
Toners
Simple Hypoclear

19
Misc.
Sulfide Sepia Toner

26
Toners
Farmers Reducer

20
Misc.
Kodak T-8 Toner
Toners
27 Bromide Bleach

21
Misc.
Print Hardener F-5a
29
Toners
Anh vs. Mono

23
Technical
TF-3 Fixer
Misc.
30 % Solutions

24
Technical
Simple Stop Bath
Misc.
 PRINT
DEVELOPERS

01
 Formula
750 ml Water (52 °C)
3.0g Metol
45.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
12.0g Hydroquinone
80g Sodium Carbonate (mono)
2.0g Potasium Bromide
Water To Make 1 Liter

Notes:
Similar to Dektol
Dilute 1:1 - 1:4
For less contrast and warmer tones use the
higher dilutions.

D-72
For standard printing, I use 1:2
Develop 1.5 to 3 minutes

L iter) All around great general developer

(1 tol) I personally use this developer a lot with
ek
il ar To D Fomabrom Variant 111, Ilford Warmtone,
(Sim and Classic MG papers and get very pleasing
neutral tones.
A light selenium toning will get rid of any
greenish cast on warmer papers

02
 Formula
3.85 Liters Water (52 °C)
15.0g Metol
225g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
60.0g Hydroquinone
400g Sodium Carbonate (mono)
10.0g Potasium Bromide
Add 1 Liter Water / 5 Liters Total

Notes:
Similar to Dektol
Dilute 1:1 - 1:4
For less contrast and warmer tones use the
higher dilutions.

D-72
For standard printing, I use 1:2
Develop 1.5 to 3 minutes

Liters) All around great general developer

(5 e ktol) I personally use this developer a lot with
r To D
ila Fomabrom Variant 111, Ilford Warmtone,
(Sim and Classic MG papers and get very pleasing
neutral tones.
A light selenium toning will get rid of any
greenish cast on warmer papers

03
 Formula
750 ml Water (52 °C)
2.2g Metol
50.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
11.0g Hydroquinone
78.0g Sodium Carbonate (mono)
5.5g Potasium Bromide
11.0g Glycin
Water To Make 1 Liter

Notes:
Can be used as a stock solution or Dilute 1:1
- 1:2. For less contrast and warmer tones
use the higher dilution. For standard printing,
I use 1:1
I reuse my 1:1 working solution for many

0
sessions and top it off with fresh developers

O 13
ANSC er)
as needed. Ansco 130 has a very long shelf
life in solution

(1 Lit
Develop 1.5 to 6 minutes
Great all-around general developer, I use a
lot with Ilford Warmtone paper and get very
pleasing neutral tones
A light selenium toning will get rid of any
greenish cast on warmer papers
The best source for Glycin in the U.S. is the
Photographers Formulary

04
 Formula
3.85 Liters of Water (52 °C)
11.0g Metol
250.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
55.0g Hydroquinone
390.0g Sodium Carbonate (mono)
27.5g Potasium Bromide
55.0g Glycin
Add 1 Liter Water / 5 Liters Total

Notes:
Can be used as a stock solution or Dilute 1:1
- 1:2. For less contrast and warmer tones
use the higher dilution. For standard printing,
I use 1:1
I reuse my 1:1 working solution for many

O 1 3 0 sessions and top it off with fresh developers

ANSC ers)
as needed. Ansco 130 has a very long shelf
life in solution
(5 Lit Develop 1.5 to 6 minutes
Great all-around general developer I use a lot
with Ilford Warmtone paper and get very
pleasing neutral tones
A light selenium toning will get rid of any
greenish cast on warmer papers
The best source for Glycin in the U.S. is the
Photographers Formulary
05
 Formula
750 ml Water (52 °C)
0.5g Phenidone
50.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
12g Hydroquinone
60.0g Sodium Carbonate (anh)
2.0g Potasium Bromide
20 ml Benzotriazole 1% sol.
Water To Make 1 Liter

Notes:
Ilford PQ Developer
Dilute 1:3.
Higher contrast use 1:1 - 1:2
Develop 1.5 to 3 minutes

2
Great all-around Neutral to cool tone

ID-6 developer.
Produces steely greys on Ilford MG Classic
Liter)
(1 Great for split toning Ilford MG Classic with
Q Dev)
dP light sepia toning for steely gray mids and
(Ilfor shadows while using the sepia to produce
warm highlights

06
 Formula
3.85 Liters of Water (52 °C)
2.5g Phenidone
250.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
60g Hydroquinone
300.0g Sodium Carbonate (anh)
10.0g Potasium Bromide
100 ml Benzotriazole 1% sol.
Add 1 Liter Water / 5 Liters Total

Notes:
Ilford PQ Developer
Dilute 1:3.
Higher contrast use 1:1 - 1:2
Develop 1.5 to 3 minutes
Great all-around Neutral to cool tone

ID-62) developer.
Produces steely greys on Ilford MG Classic
5 Liters Great for split toning Ilford MG Classic with
( ev)
d PQ D light sepia toning for steely gray mids and
(Ilfor shadows while using the sepia to produce
warm highlights

07
 Formula
750 ml Water (52 °C)
0.5g Phenidone
50.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
12.0g Hydroquinone
62.0g Sodium Carbonate (anh)
4.5g Potasium Bromide
Water To Make 1 Liter

Notes:
Ilford Warmtone Developer
Dilute 1:1 - 1:3
Higher contrast use 1:1
Warmer tones use 1:3
Develop 1 to 3 minutes

ID-78 Great all-around warm tone developer.

Produces beautiful tones on Ilford
1 liter)
( ev)
Warmtone, Fomabrom Variant 111, and
T D
dW
Fomatone papers
(Ilfo r Once sold as Neutol WA and Ilford
Warmtone developer

08
 Formula
3.85 Liters of Water (52 °C)
2.5g Phenidone
250.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
60.0g Hydroquinone
310.0g Sodium Carbonate (anh)
22.5g Potasium Bromide
Add 1 Liter Water / 5 Liters Total

Notes:
Ilford Warmtone Developer
Dilute 1:1 - 1:3
Higher contrast use 1:1
Warmer tones use 1:3
Develop 1 to 3 minutes

ID-78 Great all-around warm tone developer.

Produces beautiful tones on Ilford
liters)
(5 ev)
Warmtone, Fomabrom Variant 111, and
T D
dW
Fomatone papers
(Ilfo r Once sold as Neutol WA and Ilford
Warmtone developer

09
 Formula
750 ml Water (52 °C)
1.6g Metol
24.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
6.6g Hydroquinone
24.0g Sodium Carbonate (mono)
2.8g Potasium Bromide
Water To Make 1 Liter

Notes:
Warmtone Developer
Dilute 1:1 - 1:3.
Higher contrast use 1:1
Warmer tones use 1:3
Develop 1 to 3 minutes

F 135 Great all-around warm tone developer.

GA )
Produces beautiful tones on Ilford

Liter Warmtone, Fomabrom Variant 111, and

(1 Fomatone papers
Toss up for me between this and ID-78

10
 Formula
3.85 Liters of Water (52 °C)
8.0g Metol
120.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
33.0g Hydroquinone
120.0g Sodium Carbonate (mono)
14.0g Potasium Bromide
Add 1 Liter Water / 5 Liters Total

Notes:
Warmtone Developer
Dilute 1:1 - 1:3.
Higher contrast use 1:1
Warmer tones use 1:3
Develop 1 to 3 minutes

F 13 5 Great all-around warm tone developer.

GA s)
Produces beautiful tones on Ilford
er Warmtone, Fomabrom Variant 111, and
(5 Lit Fomatone papers
Toss up for me between this and ID-78

11
 FILM
DEVELOPERS

12
 Formula
750 ml Water (52 °C)
2.0g Metol
100.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
5.0g Hydroquinone
2.0g Borax
Water To Make 1 Liter

Notes:
Dilute 1:1
Sold as Kodak D-76 and very similarly Ilfords
ID11
Great film developer with excellent
sharpness and tonal scale

D-76

13
 Formula
750 ml Water (52 °C)
0.8g Metol
40.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
8.0g Hydroquinone
50.0g Sodium Carbonate (mono)
5.0g Potasium Bromide
Water To Make 1 Liter

Notes:
High Contrast Developer
Use undiluted
I have found development times from 1 - 8
minutes useful
Use with lithographic and line film for high-
contrast results

2
I often use it for making masks with Arita
o 2
Ansc
Lith film

14
 TONERS

15
 Formula
625 ml Distilled Water
88.0g Ammonium Thiocyanate
50 ml Gold Chloride 1% sol.
Cold Water To Make 835ml

Notes:
The above formula was adjusted from the
original to get two working solutions from
the expensive gold chloride solution (I
typically buy the 100ml bottles)
The original published formula below
Produces blue tones on warm tone
papers and lith prints as well as colorful
pink and salmon tones on sepia-toned
prints.
I use this toner a lot for lith prints when I
want a pretty blue hue
Has a significant increase in contrast with

231 some papers

GAF - old
irectG Published Formula:
(D
r)
Tone 750 ml Distilled Water
105.0g Ammonium Thiocyanate
60 ml Gold Chloride 1% sol.
Cold Water To Make 1 liter

16
 Formula
Sol. A - Bleach
100.0g - Potassium Ferricyanide
100.0g - Potassium Bromide
Water To Make 1 Liter

Sol. B - Bleach
100.0g - Thiocarbamide
Water To Make 1 Liter
Sol. C - Activator
100.0g - Sodium Hydroxide
Water To Make 1 Liter
*** Always add Sodium Hydroxide
SLOWLY to water - NOT the other
way around ***

o n e r Notes:

epia T The sepia color can be varied from yellow to

S ble )
dark purple-brown
a
(Vari
Known as odorless sepia toner as it does not
produce the sulfur smell of sulfide-based
toners
Works great with all modern papers all
producing slightly different colors and
results
Great way to achieve "split toning"
*** See next page for color table and further
notes***
17
 r P. Br
Tone
Further
omid
Sepia e
)able
Blea
(Vari ch

Instructions

Print may be fully bleached in a strong bleach solution (1:4) for full sepia toning
For more control, dilute the bleach further by 10% - 40% as a starting point for split
toning
Once bleached give the print a good rinse to remove all the bleach
Once rinsed move the print to the toning bath.
Mix your toning bath for the desired color (see table below)
The color achieved in the toner (sol B) can be varied by how much activator (sol C)is
added. Use the table below as a guide

Solution B Solution C Water. Color Produced

(Toner) (Activator)

5 parts 1 parts 50 parts Yellow - Sepia

4 parts 2 parts 50 parts Sepia
3 parts 3 parts 50 parts Mid-Browns
2 parts 4 parts 50 parts Rust Brown
1 part 5 part 50 parts Purple Brown

Additional Notes:
Solutions for yellows and lighter browns are more likely to lead to some highlight
density loss - Some additional highlight exposure is suggested.
For VERY light highlight toning on Ilford MG Classic I use 12ml Bleach (Sol A ) to
1liter of water and bleach for 30 sec to 1 min. (further dilution may be necessary)

18
 Formula
Sol. A - Bleach
100.0g - Potassium Ferricyanide
100.0g - Potassium Bromide
Water To Make 1 Liter

Sol. B - Toner
10.0g - Sodium Sulfide
Water To Make 1 Liter

Notes:
Produces beautiful classic sepia warm
tones.
Gives off a strong odor of sulfur (rotten
eggs)
Use in a well-ventilated area
The gas it gives off can fog emulsions so
DO NOT USE in the same room as paper,

on er
T
film etc...

Sepia Print may be fully bleached in a strong

i AKA -
nky
bleach solution (1:4) for full sepia toning

(St ide ) For more control, dilute the bleach further

Sulf by 10% - 40% as a starting point for split
iu m
Sod toning
For VERY light highlight toning on Ilford MG
Classic I use 12ml Bleach (Sol A ) to 1liter
of water and bleach for 30 sec to 1 min.
(further dilution may be necessary)

19
 Formula

750 ml Water (52 °C)

7.5g Potassium Polysulfide
(liver of sulfur)
2.5g Sodium Carbonate (mono)
Water To Make 1 Liter
(Strain with coffee filter if necessary)

Notes:
Produces warm tones.
Use at full strength as a direct toner
Good replacement for Kodak Brown Toner
Warm papers react fast - I tend to fully
submerge print for 10-15 seconds then
place it in a water bath for 10-15 seconds
and then finally in a "stop bath" of hypo
clear (see page 22)
Cold-tone bromide papers can take 10-20

k T-8
a
minutes in full strength toning bath

Kod Gives off a strong odor of sulfur (rotten

KA -kyA eggs)
(Stin
oner) Use in a well-ventilated area

r o wnT The gas it gives off can fog emulsions so

B DO NOT USE in the same room as paper,
film etc...
Leaves print emulsion soft and delicate.
Handle prints carefully and consider a print
emulsion hardener (see page 18)

20
 Formula

600 ml Water (52 °C)

75.0g Sodium Sulfite (anh)
235ml Acetic Acid 28%
375.0g Boric Acid Crystals
75.0g Potassium Alum
(dodecahydrate)
Water (20 °C) To Make 1 Liter

rd ner Notes:

nt Ha Should be used following toning with

Pri polysulfide toners such as Kodak T-8

F-5a Diluted 1:8 with water for use

21
 MISC.

22
 Formula
800 ml Ammonium Thiosulfate (60%)
60.0g Sodium Sulfite
5.0g Sodium Metaborate
Water to make 1 liter

Notes:
Dilute 1:4 for film or paper
Fix films for 3 min (agitation 30sec/min)
Fix paper for 1 min (constant agitation)
I use this for films developed in pyrocat-hd
following a water stop bath where the
alkaline fix is preferred to protect staining
Similar to Photographer Formulary's TF-4

Fixer
TF-3 ne)
li
(alka

23
 Formula
750 ml Water
10.0g Sodium Bisulfite
Water to make 1 liter

Notes:
If I run out of indicator stop bath from Ilford I
use this for general printing and lith printing
Mix just prior to use
Make a fresh bath every so often when the
printing session goes long

Bath
Stop e)
impl
(s

24
 Formula
750 ml Water
25.0g Sodium Sulfite
Water to make 1 liter

Notes:
I use this as a simple hypo clear for
fiber-based papers prior to a thorough
wash
Mix just prior to use
Replaces thiosulfate through ion
exchange with sulfite ions that are more
easily washed out of the paper.
3-5 minutes with agitation

Clea r
Hypo le)
(simp

25
 Formula
750 ml Water (52 °C)
100.0g - Potassium Ferricyanide
100.0g - Potassium Bromide
Water To Make 1 Liter

Notes:
Flattening Reducer
Same formula as the variable sepia toner
bromide bleach
I pour some off into a little dropper bottle for
use selectively on prints
Add 10 drops to 25ml water for controllable
highlight bleaching (adjust concentration to
suit your needs)
Use a small soft brush to apply and running
water to stop the action
Re-fix print when done bleaching

leach This formula can be used if redevelopment

B t
in the developer is needed but has a higher

h li gh risk of a tonal shift than the farmer's reducer

(Hig
t en er)
Brigh

26
 Formula
Solution A
350 ml Water (20 °C)
38.0g Potassium Ferricyanide
Water To Make 1/2 Liter

Solution B
750 ml Water (20 °C)
240.0g Sodium Thiosulfate
Water To Make 1 Liter

Notes:
Cutting Reducer
The two solutions should have a long shelf
life if stored in dark brown bottles. Once

cer
mixed, they have a short life of a few
edu
mersR minutes.
Far light
Mix 1 part A to 4 parts B for a working
(High er)
solution. Dilute further as necessary
ten
Brigh
Once combined the mixture will exhaust in
minutes
Use a small soft brush to apply and running
water to stop the action

27
 TECHNICAL

28
 Anyhdrous
vs.
Monohydrate

Anhydrous means without water

Monohydrate means one
molecule of water has attached
to a molecule of the chemical
The water molecule adds
approximately 17% more weight
To convert one to the other
simply multiply or divide by 17%

EXAMPLE:

Mono 50.0g Sodium Sulfite (anhy)

h vs
An 50.0 x 1.17 = 58.5g (mono

50.0g Sodium Sulfite (mono)

50.0 / 1.17 = 42.74g (anh)

29
 Making a %
Solution

Percentage solutions are made

up to make it easy to measure
small amounts of chemicals
accurately
Depending on the chemical some
may need hot water to dissolve
properly others may not

EXAMPLE:

1% Solution
(10g into 1000ml water)
750ml Water

tions 10.0g chemical

Solu
% water to make 1 liter

10% Solution
(100g into 1000ml water)
750ml Water
100.0g chemical
water to make 1 liter

30
 distinctionphoto.com
[email protected].