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Photo Forum / Film Photography / Darkroom / February 2004

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Help! Newbie and developer/permawash

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Kelly - 20 Feb 2004 21:36 GMT
I'm taking an introductory B&W darkroom class at my art college, and we
mixed our three batches of chemicals last week: developer, fixer, and Heico
Permawash. In pulling out the bottles from the locker this week, I
discovered I'd labeled the fixer, but in the general confusion of the school
darkroom had left blank tape on the two other brown bottles. Is there any
way to pour out a small amount to determine which is which? (The developer
is TMax developer, if that makes a difference.) Or do I need to go through
teh development process with a small piece of test film to see if things
work?

Thank you in advance!
Tom Gardner - 20 Feb 2004 21:44 GMT
I almost hate to say it but...taste them after tasting knowns.  You probably
won't die.

> I'm taking an introductory B&W darkroom class at my art college, and we
> mixed our three batches of chemicals last week: developer, fixer, and Heico
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thank you in advance!
Norman Worth - 20 Feb 2004 21:53 GMT
Short of tasting, there are other things you can do.  If you have access to
a pH meter, pH indicator tape, or even litmus paper, developer is alkaline.
The wash in neutral.  You could put a small piece of fogged film or paper in
some of it and see if it develops.  Smell is sometimes also an indicator -
Permawash is odorless.

> I almost hate to say it but...taste them after tasting knowns.  You probably
> won't die.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> >
> > Thank you in advance!
Jean-David Beyer - 20 Feb 2004 21:59 GMT
> I'm taking an introductory B&W darkroom class at my art college, and we
> mixed our three batches of chemicals last week: developer, fixer, and Heico
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thank you in advance!

With the lights on, put a piece of scrap B&W film in each. The one in
the one that turns black is in the developer, and the one in the
PermaWash will stay pretty much the same.

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Richard Knoppow - 22 Feb 2004 01:23 GMT
> > I'm taking an introductory B&W darkroom class at my art college, and we
> > mixed our three batches of chemicals last week: developer, fixer, and Heico
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> the one that turns black is in the developer, and the one in the
> PermaWash will stay pretty much the same.

 The Permawash will clear the anti-halation dye so the film
will look different but won't blacken it.

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Richard Knoppow
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dickburk@ix.netcom.com

Louie Powell - 23 Feb 2004 23:40 GMT
> I'm taking an introductory B&W darkroom class at my art college, and
> we mixed our three batches of chemicals last week: developer, fixer,
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thank you in advance!

Kelly -

Another replier has suggested putting a scrap of film into each of the
mystery chemicals, and the developer will be the one that causes the film
to turn black.  But there are three other things that you might also try.

First, developers tend to have a pronounced odor, while PermaWash is
odorless.  So take a sniff.

Second, some developers have a faint color (typically brown), while
PermaWash may have a slight blue cast.  So pour a little of each into
glass containers, and then compare them.

Third, developers are what chemists refer to as "bases".  Another replier
suggested using a pH meter - that will work, but another way to identify
bases is to stick a couple of fingers into the liquid, and then rub the
fingers together.  Bases will cause your fingers to feel "soapy". In the
old days, soap was made by combining animal fat with lye, a strong base.  
In a similar fashion, developers will cause a soap-like substance to be
created from the oils in your skin.  By the way, unless you have
allergies, this is perfectly harmless.  And if you are allergic to photo
chemicals, the time to learn this is now so that you can take appropriate
protective steps.
 
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