Ilford Ilfosol-3

About the Developer

Ilfosol-3 is a liquid concentrate for small-volume film processing in spiral tanks, cuvettes, and rotary processors without a replenisher. The standard dilution ratio is 1+9 for one-shot use; to save on solution, you can dilute it 1+14 with a slight loss of image quality. Reusing the working solution is not recommended.

Character

A modern liquid developer that produces clean, crisp results. Good grain, decent sharpness, and even contrast. Works best with fresh, low- and medium-speed films. The concentrate has a shorter shelf life once opened.

Best films

Ilford Pan F+, FP4+, Delta 100/400, Kodak T-Max 100/400, Fomapan 100/200, Kentmere 100/400, ADOX CHS 100 II.

How to Prepare and Use

1. 1Determine the tank capacity and measure out the concentrate according to the manufacturer’s dilution chart—for example, 40 mL of concentrate to 360 mL of water for a 400-mL tank when diluting at a 1:9 ratio.
2. 2Mix immediately before use—the working solution remains effective for no more than 24 hours.
3. 3Pour it into the tank at 20°C (acceptable range: 20–24°C; at higher temperatures, the time is shorter).
4. 4Warm-up: 4 sit-ups in the first 10 seconds; repeat this during the first 10 seconds of each subsequent minute.
5. 5Drain the developer 10 seconds before the end of the processing time, and proceed immediately to the stop bath and fixer.

Development times for different films

Ilford's official specifications for a 1+9 dilution at 20°C. With an economical 1+14 dilution, the processing time is approximately one and a half to two times longer—see the manufacturer's table.