Response to Divided Developer Quandry

Rinsing between the two baths would be disastrous. Temp. and time are not critical but there are limits (especially on the low side). I would imagine that if your chemicals are too cold, the action of the developer would be slowed down considerably. If they are too hot, you would risk to damage your film (by swelling the emulsion too much). Too little time would not permit the developer to penetrate the emulsion in the first bath and it would not leave it enough time to act in the second bath. I guess film speed is not so important, so it would be possible to develop two different films in the same tank. Check it out, though. With some divided developers the recommended times are different for slow and fast films. Agitation is needed in the first bath to ensure even penetration of the developer in the emulsion. In the second bath, some agitation is needed to renew the exhausted alkali that is in touch with the high density areas of the negative and wash away the bromide that is produced and acts as a restrainer. If you don't agitate at all, you risk to get uneven development. It always depends on the kind of formula you shall use, but I would suggest at least some agitation. If you don't overdo it, the edge effects will be there, don't worry...

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