Response to What is a compensating developer?

A compensating developer is one which compresses highlight density range. Or iow, rather than a straight-line response of increasing density with increasing exposure, a compensating developer provides less and less density increase per unit of exposure. Usually this is done by using a weak solution so that the developer exhausts in highlight areas between agitation cycles; a similar effect can be achieved by using a developer that modifies the curve shape to about the same without relying on exhaustion. A compensating developer may or may not be useful. While compensation may bring the highlights down to printable densities, highlight contrast may then be so low that virtually no detail is visible.

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