Cookbook

I would like to share my favourite mix-it-yourself divided black - and - white developer. It is very simple and requires only very basic photographic chemicals.

Normal film development is usually done with one bath, followed by stop and fix. Divided development is based on two subsequent baths of developer, each containing only a part of the required chemicals. The first bath contains the developer and restrainer, and little or no development takes place in this bath. The film is then transferred - without a rinse - to the second bath, containing the accelerator, and development is accelerated and completed in this bath.

The effect of 2 - bath development is usually well controlled highlight density, even contrast and negatives that are easy to print. There are many different divided developers, the most famous may be the old Stoeckler developer formulated for fine grain with Leica cameras in 1938.

The two baths must be stored in separate bottles. It is important not to spill any of bath B into bath A. It is inevitable that small amounts of bath A will be added to bath B when used. This will lead to more contrasty and grainy negatives after a while. Mix a new solution B if this becomes a problem.

Time in bath A should be 6 to 8 minutes, with agitation. Time in bath B should B 3 to 4 minutes. Time in bath A may have an effect on usable film speed, contrast and negative density. More time in bath B will not have any effect.

Solution A

Metol	3 g
Sodium sulfite	30 g
Water to make	1 liter

Solution B

Sodium carbonate	15 g
Sodium sulfite	3 g
Water to make	1 liter

I usually add 10 ml of a 0,001% solution of potassium iodide to each of the solutions, but the effect of this is very small, if any at all.

If you want your negatives to be more dense, increase the amount of sodium carbonate in solution B. It can be increased to at least 10% (100 grams in 1 liter of water, that is). Experiment.

The solutions can be used several times if not contaminated, making 2-bath development very cheap. The shelf life of solution A should be at least 2 to 3 months in a stoppered, brown glass bottle. Solution B has a much longer life, but should be discarded when it becomes too discolored.

Divided development is forgiving when it comes to film exposure, developing temperature, agitation and development time. Any temperature between 19 and 23 degrees centigrade is okay. If you follow your ususal procedure, that will probably be fine.