Kodak D-23
Just two ingredients — the simplest recipe for your first home mix.
About this developer
D-23 was formulated in 1944 and may be the simplest developer in the world: just metol and sodium sulfite. It gives soft, compensating contrast and very fine grain — used by Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. A great first recipe for mixing a developer from raw chemicals.
How to mix it
- 1Heat ~750 ml of water to 50°C.
- 2Add a pinch of sodium sulfite — this protects the metol from oxidizing as it dissolves.
- 3Slowly add the metol, stirring until fully dissolved.
- 4Add the remaining sodium sulfite and stir until the solution is clear.
- 5Top up with water to 1 liter and let it cool to 20°C.
- 6Let the solution sit for 24 hours before first use.
Development times by film
| Film | Dilution | Time @ 20°C |
|---|---|---|
| Kodak Tri-X 400 | stock | 7:30 min |
| Kodak Tri-X 400 | 1:1 | 12–13 min |
| Kodak Tri-X 400 | 1:3 | 18–20 min |
| Ilford Delta 100 | stock | 7:00 min |
Times are starting points. 1:1 or 1:3 dilution increases apparent grain sharpness due to lower sulfite concentration.
Recipe for 1 liter
7.5 g
Metol
100 g
Sodium sulfite
to 1 L
Water
Dissolve the metol first (adding a pinch of sulfite to protect it from oxidizing), then the remaining sodium sulfite.