Response to Pyro...what's all the fuss please?

The biggest change in PMK from the older pyro developers is the use of sodium metaborate as the accelerator. The older formulas used chemicals that were higher alkali agents and caused very unpredictable results and for the developer to lose its activity in only a matter of minutes, the PMK will have consistent activity for an hour after mixing. Pyro was the common developer of the last century and the early part of this century until the MQ and PQ developers came out. They were more stable and easier to use that is why they took over from pyro. Comparing developers today is really splitting hairs because they all use the same ingredients, Pyro developers and especially PMK are unique and do have a different look than anything else out today. I have used PMK for the last couple of years and love it for roll film although I have changed back to a conventional developer for most of my sheet film work, it is a little more predictable.

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