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KODAK MICRODOL-X Developer: Technical Data / Chemical

This document provides instructions for developing black-and-white film using Kodak Microdol-X developer. It details the proper agitation techniques for small tanks, large tanks, and sheet film to ensure uniform development. Proper replenishment of the developer is also recommended to maintain consistent results.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
399 views4 pages

KODAK MICRODOL-X Developer: Technical Data / Chemical

This document provides instructions for developing black-and-white film using Kodak Microdol-X developer. It details the proper agitation techniques for small tanks, large tanks, and sheet film to ensure uniform development. Proper replenishment of the developer is also recommended to maintain consistent results.

Uploaded by

farraex
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TECHNICAL DATA / CHEMICAL November 2003 • J-4027

KODAK MICRODOL-X Developer


KODAK MICRODOL-X Developer is designed to produce cycle per second during the agitation intervals. Steps 2
lower graininess than other black-and-white film developers, through 4 will take approximately 7 to 20 seconds,
with very little loss in film speed. For greater sharpness, but depending on the type of tank.
with a slight increase in graininess, you can use a 1:3 dilution 5. End the initial agitation with a sharp tap of the bottom
of this developer. of the tank against the work surface to dislodge air
Proper replenishment of MICRODOL-X Developer will bubbles from the film surface.
increase the capacity and maintain process consistency 6. Let the tank sit for the remainder of the first
without an increase in developer time. See "Replenishment" 30 seconds.
for intructions on how to replenish this developer.
7. After the first 30 seconds, agitate for 5 seconds at
30 second intervals. Agitation should consist of 2 to
Agitation
5 cycles, depending on the contrast you need and the
Proper agitation is very important for consistent and uniform type of tank.
results. Agitation helps remove the by-products of
development from the surface of the film so that fresh Agitating Short Rolls in a Large Tank
developer can act on the exposed silver halide in the You can process several short rolls (1.5 metres [5 feet] or
emulsion. Because agitation affects the rate of development, less) in a large tank. Wind each roll onto a spiral reel. Load
particularly in high-density areas, you can achieve consistent the reels on a rack, in a basket, or on a spindle, and place the
negative quality only if agitation is uniform over the whole rack, basket, or spindle in the tank (typically a 3.8-litre
surface of the film, and when the degree of agitation is [1-gallon] or a 13-litre [31⁄2 -gallon] tank). Many racks can
similar for each film or batch of films. hold up to 30 rolls of 35 mm film or 18 rolls of 120-size film.
Agitation should always consist of irregular or random Use the following agitation procedure:
movements that will not cause solution currents to flow over
the film constantly in any one direction; these currents 1. Start the timer. Lower the rack, basket, or spindle into
increase film density along their paths, causing the developer, and tap it quickly and sharply against the
tank to dislodge air bubbles from the surface of the
nonuniformity.
film. Air bubbles can interfere with development and
produce low-density circles on the film.
Agitating Rolls in a Small Tank
The times given for small-tank processing are based on the 2. Agitate the film continuously for the first 15 to
following agitation procedure: 30 seconds by raising and lowering the rack, basket, or
spindle approximately 1 cm (1⁄2 inch). Be sure to keep
1. Fill the empty tank with developer.
the reels in the solution. Do not agitate the rack, basket,
2. Start the timer. In the dark, smoothly and rapidly lower or spindle for the remainder of the first minute.
the loaded reel(s) into the developer solution.
3. Agitate once each minute (after the first minute) by
3. Quickly attach the top to the tank. Firmly tap the lifting the rack, basket, or spindle completely out of the
bottom of the tank against the work surface from a developer, tilting it approximately 30 degrees to drain it
height of approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch) to dislodge air for 5 to 10 seconds, and reimmersing it. Alternate the
bubbles from the surface of the film. Air bubbles can direction of tilting the rack, basket, or spindle.
interfere with development and produce low-density
circles on the film.
4. Provide initial agitation of 2 to 7 cycles, in 5 to 15
seconds. For KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX Films
in invertible tanks, 5 to 7 cycles in 5 seconds are
recommended. For an invertible tank, one cycle
consists of rotating the tank upside down and then back
to the upright position. For a noninvertible tank, one
cycle consists of sliding the tank back and forth over a
25.4 cm (10-inch) distance. With tanks that have a
handle for turning the reel, rotate the reel back and
forth gently through about one-half turn at a rate of one

©Eastman Kodak Company, 2003


Agitating Sheet Film in Trays Agitating Sheet Film in a Large Tank
Presoaking sheets in water yields more even development, Be sure to separate the sheets by at least 1 cm (1⁄2 inch).
especially when multiple sheets of film are processed When you process films of different sizes together in the
together. Even a single sheet should be presoaked so that the same tank, such as 8 x 10-inch and 4 x 5-inch films, separate
rate of development will be the same as multiple sheets the hangers containing the different-size films with a hanger
processed together. loaded with an 8 x 10-inch sheet of acetate or scrap film to
To process a single sheet: avoid uneven development or scratching of the larger sheets.
1. Fill a tray with water that is at the same temperature as This unevenness is caused by turbulence around the central
the developer. frame of the multiple-film hanger during agitation. To agitate
a sheet of film or a batch of sheet films in hangers in a tank,
2. Immerse the film in the water, making sure it is totally
follow this procedure:
covered with solution. Rock the tray occasionally for
about 1 minute, then transfer the film to the developer. 1. Start the timer. Lower the hangers as a unit into the
developer. Tap the hangers sharply against the rim of
3. Slip the film into the developer. Rock the tray
the tank two or three times to dislodge air bubbles from
immediately to make sure the film is covered with
the surface of the film. (Air bubbles can interfere with
solution.
development and produce low-density circles on the
4. Agitate the film by first raising the left side of the tray film.)
about 3/4 inch (2 cm). Lower it smoothly, and then
2. Allow the hangers to remain undisturbed for the
immediately raise and lower the side nearest to you.
remainder of the first minute.
Next, raise and lower the right-hand side, then the near
side again. This agitation cycle takes about 8 seconds. 3. Lift all the hangers out of the solution and tilt them
almost 90 degrees to the left. Reimmerse the hangers,
5. Agitate continuously throughout the development time.
lift them out again, and then tilt them almost 90 degrees
6. At the end of the development time, drain the sheet for to the right. Do this as quickly and smoothly as
a few seconds and transfer it to the stop bath. To avoid possible—in about 5 to 7 seconds.
contaminating the developer with stop bath, use one
4. After you reimmerse the hangers, check their spacing.
hand for lifting the sheet from the developer and the
other hand for placing it in the stop bath. 5. Repeat this agitation cycle once every minute during
the development time.
To process two to six sheets together:
Note: Each agitation cycle should take about 6 seconds.
1. Fill a tray with water that is at the same temperature as
When you process large sheets of film (e.g., 8 x 10 inches),
the developer.
be careful not to dislodge them from the hangers by lifting
2. Immerse the sheets one at a time, emulsion side up, in them from the solution too quickly.
the tray of water. Make sure that each sheet is covered
with water before inserting the next one. Agitate by
moving the bottom sheet to the top of the stack every DEVELOPMENT
few seconds. Go through the stack twice. Be careful The development times in Kodak publications for
that the corners of the sheet you are handling do not black-and-white films are starting-point recommendations;
scratch the sheet under it. for critical applications, run tests to determine the best
3. Take the bottom sheet out of the tray of water, drain it development time. If your films are consistently too low in
for a few seconds, and place it in the developer, contrast, increase the development time slightly (10 to
emulsion side up. Make sure that the sheet is covered 15 percent); if they are too contrasty, decrease the
with developer. Transfer the rest of the sheets to the development time slightly (10 to 15 percent).
developer in the same way. Interleave the stack, from If you use MICRODOL-X Developer diluted 1:3, dilute it
bottom to top, until development is complete. just before you use it, and discard it after processing the
Note: When you use interleaving agitation, go through the batch of film. Before using the diluted developer, make
stack of sheets completely. Rotate the first sheet in the certain that there are no air bubbles in the solution. If air is
developer 180° from the rest of the stack so that the notch is coming out of the solution and forming bubbles, let the
at the opposite end. This identifies it as the first sheet; be sure solution stand until the bubbles dissipate.
that it is the first sheet you remove from each solution.
4. At the end of the development time, transfer the sheets
to the stop bath one at a time in the order they were
placed in the developer. Drain each sheet for the same
time that the sheets were drained in Step 3 when placed
in the developer. To avoid contaminating the developer
with stop bath, use one hand for lifting the sheets from
the developer and the other hand for placing them in the
stop bath.

2 KODAK MICRODOL-X Developer • J-4027


STORING SOLUTIONS
Storing Solutions
Use the table below as a guide to the keeping properties of KODAK MICRODOL-X Developer. Store stock solutions in tightly
closed bottles. Solutions in full bottles have a longer shelf life; partially filled bottles allow some oxidation of the solution.

Storage Life
Stock Solution in
Solution Dilution Working Solution in
Tightly Closed Bottle
Full Half-Filled Tray Large Tank*
MICRODOL-X
Full Strength 6 months 2 months 24 hours 1 month
MICRODOL-X Liquid
MICRODOL-X
1:3† NR NR NR NR
MICRODOL-X Liquid
* With floating lid.
† If you use MICRODOL-X Developer diluted 1:3, dilute it just before you use it, and discard it after processing one batch of film. Don’t reuse or replenish this
solution.

NR = Not recommended

Capacity Replenishment
KODAK MICRODOL-X Replenisher has been
Capacity for MICRODOL-X Developer discontinued. Customers who have been using this
Number of Rolls or Sheets per product may wish to try the following procedure that
Gallon of Developer would allow them to continue using KODAK
Film Size
With Without MICRODOL-X Developer in a replenished system.
Replenishment Replenishment This procedure provides a replenishing solution that
120 60 16 should produce the same photographic results as
220 30 8 MICRODOL-X Replenisher when used to replenish
135-24 80 21 MICRODOL-X Developer. Although this solution does
135-36 60 16
not exactly match the solution obtained when mixing the
discontinued replenisher, a preliminary evaluation of this
8 x 10-inch sheets 60 16
substitute replenishing solution has indicated that it works
4 x 5-inch sheets 240 64 reasonably well. It has not, however, been extensively
tested. Customers who wish to continue to replenish
Note: Discard developer after processing the equivalent of
MICRODOL-X Developer are encouraged to run their
4800 square inches of film per gallon.
own evaluation to determine whether it will meet their
Don’t reuse or replenish diluted developer. When using needs.
MICRODOL-X Developer diluted 1:3, you can develop one To make 3 U.S. quarts (2.84 litres) of replenishing
135-36 roll (80 square inches) in 473 mL (16 ounces) or two solution:
rolls together in 946 mL (one quart) of diluted developer.
1. Start with approximately 2 U.S. quarts (2 litres) of
If you process one 135-36 roll in a 237 mL (8-ounce) tank
water at 90-100°F (32-38°C).
or two 135-36 rolls in a 473 mL (16-ounce) tank, increase
the development time by 10 percent. This will compensate 2. Add the contents of one packet of KODAK
for the weakened developer and lower volume. MICRODOL-X Developer (size to make one U.S.
gallon—CAT No. 196 9724) with sufficient stirring
to keep the chemicals suspended.
3. Add 24 grams of photographic grade Sodium
Carbonate, monohydrate.
4. Mix until the components are dissolved.
5. Add water to bring the solution volume to 3.0 U.S.
quarts (2.84 litres).
6. Mix until the solution is uniform.
The mixed replenishing solution should be stored in full
tightly capped bottles until used. In partly full, tightly
stoppered bottles, a storage life of about two months
would be expected.
A starting point replenishment rate of 30 mL per roll of
135-36 exposure film (or equivalent) is suggested.

KODAK MICRODOL-X Developer • J-4027 3


KODAK MICRODOL-X Developer

MORE INFORMATION
Kodak has many publications to assist you with information
on Kodak products, equipment, and materials.
The following publications are available from dealers who
sell Kodak products, or you can contact Kodak in your
country for more information.

E-103CF Chemicals for KODAK Black-and-White Films


(Matrix)
F-13 KODAK High Speed Infrared Film
F-4016 KODAK PROFESSIONAL T-MAX Films
F-4017 KODAK PROFESSIONAL TRI-X Films
F-4018 KODAK PROFESSIONAL PLUS-X 125 Films

For the latest version of technical support publications for


KODAK PROFESSIONAL Products, visit Kodak on-line at:
http://www.kodak.com/go/professional
If you have questions about KODAK PROFESSIONAL
Products, call Kodak.
In the U.S.A.:
1-800-242-2424, Ext. 19, Monday–Friday
9 a.m.–7 p.m. (Eastern time)
In Canada:
1-800-465-6325, Monday–Friday
8 a.m.–5 p.m. (Eastern time)

Note: The Kodak materials described in this publication for


use with KODAK MICRODOL-X Developer are available
from dealers who supply KODAK PROFESSIONAL
Products. You can use other materials, but you may not
obtain similar results.

KODAK MICRODOL-X Developer Kodak, Kodak Professional, and Microdol-X are trademarks. New 11-03
KODAK Publication No. J-4027 Printed in U.S.A.

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