Page 64 - The Wellington photographic handbook

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when used with stale sulphite solution develops very slowly, and
there is a great loss of brilliancy in the resulting prints—a result
for which the manufacturer often gets the blame. The developer
given above should therefore be prepared as directed and used
within three days of mixing.
A single-solution developer which keeps very well is the
following :
METOL-HYDROKINONE DEVELOPER.*
Metol . . 20 grains 1 gramme
Hydrokinone ... .. 60 „ 3 grammes
Sodium Sulphite (cryst.) .. 700 35
Sodium Carbonate (cryst.) .. 700 „ 35
Potassium Bromide . . 6 „ 0-3 gramme
Water to . . 20 ounces 500 ex.
First dissolve the metol in water, then the other ingredients in the order
named. For use dilute with an equal volume of water.
N.B.—A11 metoi-hydrokinone developers should be used at a temperature
of from 60° to 65° Fahr. Below 60° Fahr. hydrokinone rapidly loses its
developing power and at very low temperatures becomes practically inert.
The Borax M.Q. formula given on page 15 will also be found
very suitable for use with the WELLINGTON Bromides. It gives
rather less contrast than the formulae mentioned above.
It should be remembered that with any developer the print
becomes natter and more of a brownish or greenish colour the more
bromide there is present in the solution. A weak developer
with a full exposure yields a soft and grey result. Vigorous images
with good, rich blacks can only be obtained by giving a short,
but sufficient exposure, and developing with a strong, but slightly-
restrained developer, such as those given above.
It is not a good plan to place the prints in water after develop-
ing and before fixing them, as the developer goes on acting to a
certain extent, and prints so treated will be found to be less brilliant
and to have a slight greyish veil in the lighter parts, which should
not be present.

FIXING AND WASHING BROMIDE PRINTS.

The fixing bath recommended is made up as follows :
Hypo ... ... ... ... 4 ounces 100 grammes
Water to 20 „ 500 c.c.
* Before making up any formula, read the notes on pages 125, 126 and 134.
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