Tektol Overview
From Silvergrain Products
Tektol Developers are B&W print developers that come in two flavors: Standard and Neutral.
Print developers are important. They can make or break beautiful images on photographic paper. They have an important influence on the gradation and the hue of the final image. The two Tektol Developers were made from a single base design but will give different results. It is a creative decision to choose between them.
Tektol Developers are suitable for:
both RC and FB paper processing in tray, vertical slot processor and drum processor processing temperature from 20 to 27C (68-80F) prints to be toned archival processing Full information is found at Tektol Details section.
Short Descriptions
Tektol Standard
Tektol Standard is a liquid concentrate print developer designed to maximize the paper's natural image property with rich blacks and natural whites. Tektol Standard is the ideal choice for printers who stock a warmtone paper, a neutral paper, and a coldtone paper and select the paper to meet the desired image quality, and is further optimized to produce the maximum effect when used in conjunction with print toners. With most papers, prints developed with Tektol Standard will offer the widest range of tone (hue) shift when toned with toners such as selenium, sepia and polysulfide (brown). This is an avid toner's choice, who seeks creative effects while securing rich shadow density. Tektol Standard developer is formulated entirely with low toxicity chemicals. Dilute 1+9 for most applications, and 1+14 when greater control or economy is important. Sizes: 32 oz, 1 gallon, 5 gallon.
Tektol Black
Tektol Black is a liquid concentrate print developer designed to produce cold black to neutral tones with most papers, and can also provide crisp highlight contrast. Some papers display slightly warm blacks or olive blacks when processed in a standard print developer, but this developer will minimize this bias while maintaining rich blacks and bright whites. Tektol Black offers a modest range of toning effect with most archival toners, and is the ideal choice for printers who routinely use selenium or polysulfide (brown) toner to enhance the permanence of the prints. Prints developed in Tektol Black can be toned deeply enough for permanence, with a minimum of the warm hue typically associated with these toners. Tektol Black may be mixed with Tektol Standard as an additional control to obtain intermediate cold tones. Dilute 1+9 for most applications, or 1+14 when greater control or economy is important. Sizes: 32 oz, 1 gallon.
Tektol Neutral
Tektol Neutral is a liquid concentrate print developer designed to provide neutral black tones with most papers. Some popular papers tend to provide slightly warm blacks or olive blacks when processed in a standard print developer, but this developer will minimize this bias while maintaining rich blacks and bright whites. Tektol Neutral is the ideal choice for printers who prefer a neutral black tone out of their favorite papers. Tektol Neutral offers a modest range of toning effect with most archival toners. This developer is the ideal choice for printers who routinely use selenium or polysulfide (brown) toner to enhance the permanence of the prints. Prints developed in Tektol Neutral can be toned deeply enough for permanence, with minimum of the warm hue typically associated with these toners. Tektol Neutral may be mixed with Tektol Standard as an additional control to obtain intermediate cold tones. Dilute 1+9 for most applications, and 1+14 when greater control or economy is important.
Common Questions
How do Tektol Developers Compare?
How do Tektol developers compare to Kodak Dektol, Ilford Multigrade, ANSCO 130 and other print developers? Please refer to the comparison chart in Tektol Details section. Most standard print developers can be replaced with Tektol Standard, diluted 1+9 (one part concentrate and 9 parts water), and the processing sequence does not need be changed, possibly except for adjusting the development time to 90 to 120 seconds. However, expect some difference in the image tonality, color, and overall look.
What are the differences between Tektol Standard and Tektol Neutral? Tektol Neutral is colder toned than Tektol Standard. Tektol Standard gives the paper's natural tone (the hue of black): warmer side of neutral black with most papers. However, some darkroom printers prefer colder tone. Tektol Neutral provides colder side of neutral black with most papers. Tektol Neutral also tends to develop a bit more slowly than Standard version. They are otherwise based on same technology, and the image tone may be fine tuned by mixing Tektol Standard and Tektol Neutral, if desired.
Why Tektol is safer than other developers? Tektol developers are free of hydroquinone, Metol, and other common developing agents that are named in regulatory lists. Instead, Tektol uses isoascorbate, a compounds analogous to Vitamin C, as the main developing agent, together with a very small amount of Dimezone S, a potent modern developing agent. Neither isoascorbate nor Dimezone S is known to cause chemical allergy to darkroom workers. Tektol also avoids non-biodegradable compounds such as EDTA (a very common chelating agent).
I have allergy to many developers. Is Tektol different? Although this does not happen often these days, a common developing agent Metol (or Elon) is known to cause chemical sensitization and skin rash. Tektol developers do not contain any Metol and chemical allergy is less likely. However, this should be considered as an extra margin of safety in case of inadvartense, and not as a reduced need to use safety precaution.
How can I do this?
I use two print developers (Dektol and Selectol) in a sequence to control contrast. Can I do this with Tektol?
Yes.
Modern multigrade paper largely eliminated the need for this kind of control. However, users of graded paper may find this technique still useful. Tektol can replace Dektol or similar developer in the sequence, together with another soft contrast developer.
I prefer longer development time to fine tune contrast. Can I do this with Tektol?
Yes. Tektol Standard diluted 1+14 works slower but is capable of developing rich black when sufficient development time is allowed.
I prefer warmtone image (without toning). How best can I obtain warmtone image? This answer applies to Tektol Standard 1+9 or 1+14 dilution. You may give slight overexposure (20-100% longer exposure) and shorten development time to adjust for the image darkness. The more exposure you give, the shorter development it takes. And the warmer the image becomes. It may be useful to use higher 1+14 dilution for more accurate control.
However, trying too far from the paper's natural image hue is likely to result in some cost: partial loss of richness of the black and softening of highlight tone.
How can I get the image hue intermediate of Tektol Standard and Tektol Neutral?
Mix 1 part Tektol Standard Developer concentrate, 1 part Tektol Neutral Developer concentrate, and 18 parts of water. Or, they can be mixed at any ratio to suite your taste.
How can I get the richest black from the paper, most consistently? Always develop to completion. A simple way to ensure complete development is to use 1+9 dilution. Observe how the image darkens in safelight. Note time it takes to reach the point where you don't see the image darkening any farther. Add 30 seconds to that time. Also, use good intermittent or continual agitation.
How can I get the most effect from prints to be toned? At least for sulfiding toners (brown toner and sepia toner) and selenium toners, it is best to develop prints to completion in Tektol 1+9 dilution.
How should I dispose?
Can I dump the exhausted solution down the drain?
Can I dump the unused solution down the drain?
If your drain is connected to sewer treatment facility (publicly owned treatment works), it is likely that a small amount of discard from individual photographer's darkroom is not harmful. If discarding concentrate solution, dilute it with a large amount of water. However, the regulation varies, and you are recommended to check your local legislation. In some areas, photographic solution is not allowed in the sewer system.
Can I dump the solution into septic system?
Disposal of chemicals into septic system is usually regulated by local government body and disposal of photographic chemicals is very often prohibited.
What are other options?
You can accumulate wasted solution for disposal. Your city or town most likely runs a household hazardous material collection program, and individual photographers very rarely exceeds their allowance limit. Otherwise, call your local licensed chemical hauler.
Material Safety Data Sheets
