Ilford ID-35

About this developer

ID-35 is not intended to be a universal developer; it is a specialized tool for forced contrast. The solution is kept as two separate stock solutions—A (hydroquinone + sodium sulfite + potassium bromide) and B (potassium nitrate)—which store well when kept separately. The working solution is mixed in a 1:1 ratio only immediately before development, used to process several rolls of film in succession, and then discarded—it does not last long.

Character

This developer is intended exclusively for producing high-contrast images on negative film. It is stored as two long-life stock solutions, and the working solution is prepared on the day of development by mixing them in a 1:1 ratio—the working solution itself does not last long.

Best films

Any black-and-white negative film is suitable for situations where a deliberately increased contrast is needed—such as reproduction and technical photography, or to compensate for a flat scene.

How to Prepare and Use

1. 1Prepare Solution A: Pour about 700 ml of warm water into a 1-liter container, then add approximately 1/3 of the contents of a medium-sized packet (sodium sulfite + potassium bromide).
2. 2Once dissolved, add the contents of the small packet (hydroquinone), followed by the remainder of the medium-sized packet.
3. 3Allow Solution A to cool to room temperature, bring the volume to 1 L with distilled water, and filter if necessary.
4. 4Prepare Solution B: Pour about 700 ml of warm water into a 1-liter container and, while stirring constantly, dissolve the contents of the large bag (potash).
5. 5Allow Solution B to cool to room temperature and adjust the volume to 1 L; filter if necessary.
6. 6Before developing, mix solutions A and B in a 1:1 ratio—this is the working solution.
7. 7Develop the film for 3–4 minutes at 20°C; you can process several films in a single developing solution, after which the solution should be discarded.