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#1
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Help! Newbie and developer/permawash
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! |
#2
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Help! Newbie and developer/permawash
I almost hate to say it but...taste them after tasting knowns. You probably
won't die. "Kelly" wrote in message ... 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! |
#3
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Help! Newbie and developer/permawash
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. "Tom Gardner" wrote in message .com... I almost hate to say it but...taste them after tasting knowns. You probably won't die. "Kelly" wrote in message ... 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! |
#4
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Help! Newbie and developer/permawash
"Jean-David Beyer" wrote in message ... Kelly wrote: 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! 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. -- .~. Jean-David Beyer Registered Linux User 85642. /V\ Registered Machine 73926. /( )\ Shrewsbury, New Jersey http://counter.li.org ^^-^^ 4:55pm up 45 days, 4:17, 2 users, load average: 2.16, 2.20, 2.17 The Permawash will clear the anti-halation dye so the film will look different but won't blacken it. -- --- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA |
#5
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Help! Newbie and developer/permawash
"Kelly" wrote in
: 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! 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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