Page 88 - The Wellington photographic handbook

Whichever developer is selected, the print, supposing it to
be not larger than half-plate, should be laid, face upwards, in a
clean dish, and the developer poured quickly and evenly over its
surface. The image will appear almost instantly, and should be
watched until it is seen to be about the right depth, when the
print is taken out and placed in the hypo solution. As previously
mentioned, a rinse of a second or two is necessary before fixing if
metol-hydrokinone is used, but with amidol the prints may, if
desired, be placed direct in the hypo. Prolonged washing between
developing and fixing brings about discoloration. If the prints
obtained with the metol-hydrokinone developer are brighter than
is desired, it will be found possible to increase the exposure slightly,
and to use the developer diluted with its own bulk of water. The
amidol developer is best not diluted except when used with the
soft grades. Either developer may be used over and over again,
but as soon as it is seen that the colour of the prints is not what it
should be, the developer should be discarded and fresh employed.

Prints larger than half-plate are not easily covered with the
developer in one quick sweep, and it will probably be found more
convenient to allow them to soak in clean cold water for a few
seconds, pouring off and draining away as soon as the print is
limp, and then developing.

WELLINGTON BORAX-M.Q. DEVELOPER.

The following Borax-M.Q. developer (also referred to on page
15) can be used with success for the development of S.C.P.

Metol 20 grains 1 gramme
Hydrokinone 50 „ 2-5 grammes
Sodium Sulphite (cryst.) ... 200 „ 10
Borax (powdered) ... ... 200 „ 10 ,,
Water (hot) 20 ounces 500 c.c.
Dissolve in the order given, allowing each chemical to be in complete
solution before adding the next. This developer keeps almost indefinitely
in well-stoppered bottles.
N.B.—All metol-hydrokinone developers should be used at a temperature
between 60° and 65° Fahr. Below 60° Fahr. hydrokinone rapidly loses its
developing power and at very low temperatures becomes practically inert.
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