Using ID-11

[-Oy-]

Hi all

I've always used Ilfosol3 - easy peasy!

I've decided to give ID-11 ago and have a 1L packet.

I read that at stock strength I can reuse it - thoughts on that? I have 2 x 35mm and 2 x 120 to soup. So three uses of 600ml of stock. Would that be ok? I have a compressible 1L bottle to keep the other 400ml in - which would do me another single 35mm.

I'm quite happy to use the full 1L pack to soup the films above though. So maybe top up the 400ml with 200ml of used stuff for the final 120?

Another spanner for the works - I read somewhere that using a diluted solution can actually be better - sharper? Thoughts on that in the above scenarios?

Words of wisom most welcome

 

[steveo_mcg]

There are two ways to used id-11 (d76) either neat and reuse or diluted one shot.

If you use it stock (neat) you pour the used developer back into the same bottle. This means you're mixing the slightly depleted stuff with some fresh stuff so it's ready to reuse. You need to add a compensation factor, it's something like 10% more time for every few rolls. I think you get 5-10 rolls per litre but I'd consult illfords specs.

These developers have quite a lot of solvent which means they soften the edge of the silver grains meaning they're less grainy than say rodinal but look less sharp. This is because they partially dissolve the silver while an acutance developer doesn't.

You can balance the mushy / grainy equation by diluting the stock solution and using it one shot. 1:1 and 1:3 are both popular. Either way you dilute it, develop your film and discard. Flip side of this is use use half to a third as much soup.

 

[-Oy-]

Thanks @steveo_mcg - much appreciated!