ABSTRACT
It is prudent to evaluate the effect of developers and film processing variables on negative quality, to verify if one can sufficiently alter a film’s characteristics to suit universal or specific applications. In previous chapters, we have only discussed changing the film development time to accommodate the subject brightness range. We have not explored the consequences to negative characteristics, other than contrast, or the creative opportunities obtained from changing the developer or processing technique. This is especially interesting when one considers the claims made for various old developers not knowing how they affect modern films. The subject is vast, and over the years, most photographic books have touched on the subject. Two Focal Press publications stand out, Developing by Jacobson & Jacobson and The Film Developing Cookbook, by Anchell & Troop. However, even these books do not compare the variation in speed, grain, resolution and sharpness obtainable from one film by changing the developer or processing technique.
