Hi,

I am thinking of changing to a staining developer. I mainly use HP5+, a combi plan tank, shoot 4x5 and scan for output (digital negs or as prints).

My main reasons are for a cheaper developer that can sit on my shelf for longer, and can give me a good negative that I may use for contact printing with an alternative process.

Recommendations?

Thanks Len

Pyrocat-HD or Pyrocat-MC in glycol lasts a very long time. However, I've heard of two cases where people have had problems with HP5 film, seemingly unexplainable. It is very cheap, however, and creator Sandy King has posted recipes of the formula in several places, so you can mix it yourself.
Great acutance, and works great for alt process.
Use blue channel if scanning these is the word around the campfire.
- Thomas