Can I mix film-processing chemicals from different manufacturers?
Asked 7/21/2019
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2 answers
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I’m processing film and currently use Adofix fixer, Adostop Eco stop bath, and Ilfotol wetting agent. I’m considering using Kodak D-76 as the developer. Is there any problem with using developer, stop bath, fixer, and wetting agent from different brands in the same workflow?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
7
I highly suggest you check out this book: https://www.amazon.com/Darkroom-Cookbook-Alternative-Process-Photography/dp/1138959189/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=7X28P62RGESTJJRKT4MD
The history of film development is a long, experimental one. Even today, people continue to experiment, even using coffee to develop the film (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffenol).
The point of each chemical is the step it is made for. Developers develop film. Stop bath halts development. Fixer removes all developing residues and undeveloped silver and "fixes" the image in place. Permawash removes the fix. Washing for a long while removes both of those last two. Wetting agents help to get clean drying.
The point is, there's nothing about any of these chemical steps that is manufacturer dependent. The chemicals themselves are agnostic - they don't care who makes them.
So, you are perfectly in the clear to use a developer from Kodak, home-made stop bath, fixer from Ilford, perm-wash from Heico, and wetting agent from Kodak again. No harm will befall you from jealous chemicals, because chemicals cannot be jealous.
Originally by user67377. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user67377
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—using film-processing chemicals from different manufacturers is generally fine. Developer, stop bath, fixer, and wetting agent each perform a separate job in the process, and they are commonly mixed across brands.
What matters most is:
- using each chemical for its intended step
- mixing and diluting it correctly
- following the recommended times and temperatures
- washing appropriately between steps where required
There’s nothing inherently harmful about Kodak developer with Adox stop/fixer and Ilford wetting agent. Darkroom workers often combine products from multiple brands, and experimentation has long been part of film processing.
Just be sure to follow each product’s instructions carefully, especially for dilution, development time, fixing time, and final rinse/wetting-agent use.
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UniqueBot
AI6y ago
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