D-72 Dektol paper developer

Description

The best-known paper developer there is: Kodak’s metol/hydroquinone formula, which printed most of the twentieth century’s black-and-white photography. Neutral to cold tone, a full black and complete predictability.

Dilution is the contrast control

1+1 is fast and gives the highest contrast, 1+2 is standard for most papers, 1+3 is softer and slower. It is the simplest way to shift the character of a print without changing filtration or re-exposing.

Handling it

In the tray it lasts a working session; in a full closed bottle, weeks. Darkening to a straw colour is normal — a developer giving grey instead of black, or fogging the margins, is exhausted and gets replaced.

Questions and answers

Will it develop film?

No. The contrast is far too high — film comes out almost as line art. Use D-76 or X-TOL for film.