Liquid Chemistry
For Black and White Films and Prints
Q: What is the appropriate time adjustments for tray processing sheet film?
A general rule of thumb is to reduce development time by 15% when going from small tank to tray or rotary processing.
Please Note: There are many variables in tray processing so any recommendation we give can only be a starting point.
Q: Can I use Sprint’s STANDARD Film Developer to develop prints?
The short answer would be yes, with some SIGNIFICANT “buts” included.
Most film and paper developers are similar in that many use the same developing agents in them. Most often they use a combination of Metol and Hydroquinone or Phenodone and Hydroquinone. Sprint is in the latter category. Although we cannot discuss the exact formula of Sprint’s chemistry, if we look at published formulas for some common film and print developers, we can see that they are similar, but the proportion of Metol to Hydroquinone is different. The amount of developing agent is different too, so right at the start we would say that you would want to use the film developer at a higher concentration, say 1:4 or greater.
Please keep in mind that while you will get an image, you may not like the results. When developing prints, you generally want to get the maximum black that the paper can handle. That is what the extra hydroquinone in the formula is there for. With film, one generally wants less than it’s maximum density, as you are trying to compress the subject brightness range to match that of the materials, maximum film density would give you far too much contrast to be printable. So a print developed in film developer may not have a very strong black, and it may have a bit of a warm or green color cast as well depending on the paper.
If you are interested in experimenting, our advice would be to try it and see what you think, but don’t get too optimistic, and beware that the developer may not have a very long tray life compared to regular print developer.
And just FYI, As you may well know, it is fairly common to go the other direction and develop film in print developer, for situations where an energetic developer is called for, maybe in the name of speed (newspaper photographers used to do this to develop their film super-fast) or for greater contrast. People using plastic cameras like Dianas and Holgas may find that high energy development helps off-set the rather low contrast of plastic lenses.
Happy experimentation!
Q: Can I use Sprint Developer with another company’s fixer?
Sprint’s products are specially designed as a system, but it is feasible to mix and match different manufacturer’s products within the stages of development. For example, one can use Sprint developer, Kodak stop bath, and Ilford fixer. One exception to this is when using Alum Hardening Converter. We do not recommend that Sprint’s RECORD Alum Hardening Converter be mixed with other manufacturer’s fixers.
Q: Can I develop Litho film in Sprint Developer?
Litho film requires a specially formulated developer. Sprint STANDARD B&W Film Developer is designed for continuous-tone use only. Sprint no longer manufactures a litho developer.
Q: Can I process B&W slides with Sprint Developer?
Sprint Systems no longer produces products made for reversal processing. STANDARD Film Developer and QUICK SILVER Print Developer cannot be used to process slides. Kodak makes a direct positive kit for this purpose.
Originally, Kodak D 76 was compared to STANDARD Film Developer as a means to give first-time Sprint customers a frame of reference from which to judge the appearance of their developed film. While some developing times for Sprint STANDARD B&W Film Developer (1:9) and Kodak D 76 (1:1) may be similar, the two products do not contain the same chemical components. Suggested developing times will vary considerably.
Q: I shot my film at a lower EI/ASA. How do I develop it?
For one stop (i.e. 400 film @ 200) use the normal time; for two stops (i.e. 400 @ 100) subtract one chart letter from the normal recommendation.
Q: How much developer do I need?
One liter of STANDARD concentrate will make 10 liters of working solution, enough to develop at least (50) rolls of 35mm 36 exposure film (4,000 square inches), or enough replenished solution to develop 110 rolls.
One liter of QUICK SILVER concentrate will make 10 liters of working solution, enough to process (600) 8×10 fiber prints or (900) 8×10 resin-coated prints.
Q: Can I “push process” my film with Sprint’s STANDARD Film Developer?
Yes, underexposed or “push processed” film can be developed with STANDARD. Our recommendation is to advance the development time by 2 chart letters for 1 stop, and 4 chart letters for 2 stops. For example, Ilford HP5+, whose normal chart letter is “O” (10 minutes), would be moved up by at least two chart letters, to “Q” (13 minutes), if it were underexposed by 1 stop.
Please note that Sprint STANDARD B & W Film Developer is designed for optimum quality at a film’s normal exposure recommendation. While underexposed film may be developed successfully in STANDARD, the film’s contrast will increase and its tonal range will be restricted. Developing film underexposed beyond two stops with STANDARD is unrealistic and not recommended.
Q: How do I find the development time for my film?
To determine the appropriate development time for your film, select the desired film from our STANDARD Black & White Film Developer Time Chart and read across to the column headed by your desired working temperature. The number listed at the intersection of your selected film and desired working temperature is the development time for your film.
If the necessary working temperature does not appear on this chart, note the “Chart Letter” listed next to your desired film. Once noted, this letter can be used to find a development time on our Expanded Time Chart. This chart can also be used to determine the appropriate adjustments for changes in working solution temperature, variations in film exposure and a variety of other processing conditions.
For example, Kodak Tmax 400 is assigned chart letter “P” and should be developed for 11:30 minutes at 68 degrees F. Kodak Tmax 400 can also be developed for 9:15 minutes at 71.5 degrees.
An abbreviated version of this list appears on our film developer product labels.
Sprint regularly conducts tests on a selected range black and white film stocks. From these tests we determine a recommended development time for processing with our STANDARD Film Developer. If your film does not appear on our current time charts, we recommend that you visit The Digital Truth which features the Massive Development Time Chart. This site contains development times for a wide range of films and photochemistry and can be used to provide further insight into the development time for your particular film.
Individual testing and experimentation is also suggested for those who wish to develop personal style and technique. If you would like to suggest a film type for us to test, please use the contact form on our site to send us an email. Although we cannot guarantee testing of all films, we will attempt to provide information as it becomes available.
Q: How do I make a working solution with STANDARD Film Developer?
Sprint STANDARD Film Developer is sold in concentrate form. To prepare a working solution, mix one part STANDARD Film Developer concentrate with nine parts water (1:9). Certain films have been found to develop better in a solution of two parts concentrate to 8 parts water (2:8) These films are indicated by an asterisk on our STANDARD Film Developer Time Chart.
