I've been continuing to experiment with Sandy King's Pyrocat-HD developer, alternating between it and PMK. Soon I will publish my findings, including developing times for various films. Pyrocat behaves almost exactly like PMK, except its stain is a different color, and the staining action takes place during development rather than after. In addition, there is no problem with uneven development using Pyrocat, so you can agitate or not as suits your needs. This weekend I plan to do some serious printing with my Pyrocat negatives to see how their gradation is.(posted 8893 days ago)I would like to draw on the collective experience of the PMK users on this forum. How important do you think the green color of the stain is? One correspondent states that it is critical for printing on VC papers, since it holds down contrast in the high values. Someone else seems to think reducing high value contrast is a drawback. One person recommends never adding amidol to PMK, as it changes the color of the stain (more brown/black and less yellow/green). Someone else states that a well-known photographer recommends always adding amidol.
Also, how critical is it to not use an acid stop, washing aids, and acid fixers? I have always used a brief acid stop, and I continue to use regular high speed fixers--I don't seem to have a problem getting stain in my film, but many people have posted that an acid environment will reduce the staining action. Does this come from a seminar you have attended, or from a later edition of THE BOOK OF PYRO? I own the first edition, which doesn't really address these factors, except to recommend an alkaline afterbath.
Please tell me if your opinions/recommendations stem from your own experience, or if they are from some authority or book on the subject.