6 November 2005
Following the successful reintroduction in the early summer of two of ILFORD Photo's range of legendary photochemistry products - ID-11 and Microphen powder monochrome film developers - the next stage in the company's programme to fully update its extensive range of black-and-white chemicals is now announced.
Being made available over the coming weeks through all the usual channels are two new paper developers under the ILFORD HARMAN brand, along with four long established and highly regarded products which are rejoining the range - these comprise two liquid and one powder film developers plus an upgraded washaid.
Reflecting ILFORD Photo's upgraded R&D facilities, which have been fully occupied since the management buyout in February this year, the two new paper developers - ILFORD HARMAN Warmtone Developer and ILFORD HARMAN Cooltone Developer - utilise the latest photochemical technology to allow even further expression of the printer's art.
As their names indicate, they are specifically geared for enhancing either the warm or the cool image tones of most quality papers, and both have excellent keeping properties. These new liquid developers are now available. "Having listened closely to photographers and printers from around the world, we believe these products will enhance the choice of image tones available, thereby giving further opportunities to allow an even greater level of creativity in print," says ILFORD Photo's EAMER sales director Simon Galley. "These liquid developers will work with all monochrome papers, whether Resin Coated (RC) or Fibre Based (FB)."
Leading the quartet of sorely missed products now returning to the ILFORD Photo portfolio with the advantage of upgraded formulation procedures and highly defined application benefits, are ILFORD Ilfotec HC and ILFORD Ilfotec LC29. These highly concentrated liquid film developers have similar characteristics, but are designed to bring out the best from either large or small quantity processing. ILFORD Ilfotec HC is an economic, versatile developer for processing all general-purpose black-and-white films. Using the appropriate dilution it can be used in all process systems including dishes (trays), small tanks, deep tanks, dip-and-dunk (hanger) processors, rotary tube processors, continuous long-leader processors, roller transport processors and short leader-card processors. ILFORD Ilfotec LC29, meanwhile, although similarly formulated to exploit the full potential of conventional black-and-white film emulsions in all formats, is supplied in easy-pour one-litre containers and geared towards developing small quantities of ILFORD and other films with ease and convenience.
The upgraded versatility allows for the optimisation of individual film speed, quality and economy, while performing consistently throughout its long working life. Both these liquid developers give excellent results from all quality black-and-white film, but they perform especially well with ILFORD films, when they produce exceptional fine grain negatives with acute sharpness characteristics and superb image quality.
Taking the versatility of Ilfotec LC29 even further, there is a choice of dilution strengths: 1+29, 1+19 and 1+9 - and the option for either one-time processing or, for greater economy, to reuse the diluted developer solution during one working session. Black-and-white enthusiasts will be delighted to learn that ILFORD Perceptol is the reinstated powder film developer. Widely regarded as the ultimate in fine grain development, this has been the product about which most enquiries have been received regarding ILFORD Photo's revived chemistry range - which is hardly surprising, for it is designed for use when very fine grain negatives are required and a decrease in film speed is not important.
Perceptol has been specially formulated to achieve optimum results from high-resolution lenses, and to make the most of the superb grain structure of ILFORD medium and slow speed films. Its versatile formulation is such, however, that it will produce excellent results with any lens/film combination, and is therefore ideal when texture and definition are critical. As an added bonus, negatives developed in Perceptol are far more capable of producing sharper and better quality enlargements than those produced using a standard fine grain developer.
Completing the quartet of reinstated products is ILFORD Washaid. Back with a new and improved formulation, this valuable aid to washing all Fibre Based papers also significantly reduces water usage. Washaid is a hypo-eliminator which aids the efficient removal of the thiosulphate by-products of fixation by ion exchange. It can be used for the rapid washing of all ILFORD films as well as fibre papers, thereby saving both time and water. It is particularly useful if a hardening fixer has been used in the printing process.
"As much as anything else we have achieved this year, the extension of our photochemistry range to a full and comprehensive collection is probably the most significant in proving that ILFORD Photo is serious about its role in the global photographic arena," says ILFORD Photo marketing director Howard Hopwood.
"The pressure on the new company over this year to reinstate the best of ILFORD specialist products has been intense. However, we have a lot of dedicated people in all aspects of the company, and we see the bringing to market of these photochemistry products, alongside other new items being announced at this time, as setting the basis for our continued progress and development in the future."
For full details of all ILFORD Photo products and services, telephone: 01565 650 000, email: sales@ilfordphoto.com
