The tables below show standard film developer formula required to make 1 litre of stock developer.
Note the Warning below
If you have a partcluar favourite that you want adding, send me the details and I will be happy to oblige. Contact info at bottom of page
| D-23 | D-76 | D-76d | FX-15 | FX-19 | FX-37 | ID-11 | ID-68 |
General method is to dissolve the chemicals in the order listed into about 750ml of water at about 25°C (80°F). Make sure that the chemicals are fully dissolved before adding the next one. Once all the chemicals have been added, make the mix up to 1 Litre by adding more water.
I weigh the chemicals one at a time using a small set of scales that are accurate to 0.1 gram. Measuring small quantities may be awkward especially where fractions of a gram are specified. You can get reasonable results by 'cutting' the chemical. 'Cutting' involves weighing out four times the amount required then pouring the powder onto a flat surface, e.g. a small piece of glass and forming it into an even square. Using a piece of stiff card, divide the chemical into four across the diagonals, each quarter will weigh the correct amount.
Developers containing metol may oxidise - this may be prevented by dissolving a pea sized amount of sodium sulphite in the water BEFORE adding any chemicals.
All weights are in grams (g)
| D-23 | |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Water | 750ml at 24°C (80°F) |
| Sodium Sulphite | 100 g |
| Metol | 7.5 g |
| Water | Make up to 1 Litre |
| Description/Comments No direct experience of this developer. Let me know what you think. | |
| D-76 | |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Water | 750ml at 25°C (80°F) |
| Metol | 2 g |
| Sodium Sulphite | 100 g |
| Borax | 2 g |
| Hydroquinone | 5 g |
| Water | Make up to 1 Litre |
| Also Known As ID-11 Ilford ID-11 D-76 Kodak D-76 | |
| Description/Comments General purpose film developer. Used as described by the film manufacturer and you will be guaranteed acceptable results. Once mixed, keep sealed in a cool cupboard and it should stay fresh for three months. Goes a horrible brown when stale. | |
| D-76d | |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Water | 750ml at 52°C (125°F) |
| Metol | 2 g |
| Sodium Sulphite | 100 g |
| Hydroquinone | 5 g |
| Borax | 8 g |
| Boric Acid | 8 g |
| Water | Make up to 1 Litre |
| Also Known As D-76d Kodak D-76d | |
| Description/Comments General purpose film developer. Used as described by the film manufacturer and you will be guaranteed acceptable results. This is essentially the same as normal D-76/ID-11 but is more stable with time, i.e. it has a longer shelf life - it will not process more films per litre. Once mixed, keep sealed in a cool cupboard and it should stay fresh for at least three months. | |
| FX-15 | |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Water | 750ml at 25°C (80°F) |
| Metol | 3 g |
| Sodium Sulphite | 100 g |
| Borax | 5 g |
| Hydroquinone | 2.25 g |
| Phenidone | 0.125 g |
| Sodium Metabisulphite | 1 g |
| Potassium Bromide | 1 g |
| Water | Make up to 1 Litre |
| Also Known As FX-15 | |
| Description/Comments | |
| FX-19 | |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Water | 750ml at 25°C (80°F) |
| Sodium Sulphite | 100 g |
| Hydroquinone | 7 g |
| Phenidone | 0.75 g |
| Water | Make up to 1 Litre |
| Description/Comments No knowledge of this. Please help with comments. | |
| FX-37 | |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Water | 750ml at 25°C (80°F) |
| Sodium Sulphite | 60 g |
| Hydroquinone | 5 g |
| Borax | 2.5 g |
| Phenidone | 0.5 g |
| Sodium Carbonate | 5 g |
| Potassium Bromide | 1 g |
| Water | Make up to 1 Litre |
| Description/Comments No direct knowledge - any comments welcome. | |
| ID-11 | |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Water | 750ml at 25°C (80°F) |
| Metol | 2 g |
| Sodium Sulphite | 100 g |
| Borax | 2 g |
| Hydroquinone | 5 g |
| Water | Make up to 1 Litre |
| Also Known As ID-11 Ilford ID-11 D-76 Kodak D-76 | |
| Description/Comments General purpose film developer. Used as described by the film manufacturer and you will be guaranteed acceptable results. Once mixed, keep sealed in a cool cupboard and it should stay fresh for three months. Goes a horrible brown when stale. | |
| ID-68 | |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | Amount |
| Water | 750ml at 25°C (80°F) |
| Sodium Sulphite | 85 g |
| Hydroquinone | 5 g |
| Borax | 7 g |
| Boric Acid | 2 g |
| Phenidone | 0.13 g |
| Potassium Bromide | 1 g |
| Water | Make up to 1 Litre |
| Also Known As ID-68 Ilford ID-68 | |
| Description/Comments Comments needed on this one. | |
Being unadventerous and conservative I have only ever used ID-11/D-76 and have only strayed outside of the film makers recommendations by accident. I have not used any of the other developer formula described here and as such feel unable to describe their properties. If anybody feels as if they can provide a good description then please do and I will incorporate here.
If you have a formula that is not included here and would like it to be, then please email me (dave THE_AT_SIGN restall.net) with the details and a description and I will include it in the list.
Note that these mixes have a shelf life and are hazardous especially if swallowed. For this reason all chemicals must be correctly handled, labelled and stored in such a manner that prevents inadvertent access.
I store my mix on a high shelf in a darkened cupboard. The bottle top is labelled with what is in it. My kids are sensible and not interested and these precautions are enough - your kids may be different but no less precious so please be careful.
To extend the shelf life, I store in a concertina bottle available from Jessops.
I bought my raw chemicals from Silverprint (Sorry their site uses frames so I can't link directly) in the UK. Rayco also supply chemicals but I have been unable to contact them. I would prefer to use Rayco because their site was nice and simple, unfortunately it has now gone, Their telephone number is +44 (0) 1226 744594 and if you have any luck let me know.