Mercury Intensifier?

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Hey, I've read in a couple of places now about mercury intensification of negatives. It's supposed to boost contrast up to 5 grades and is reversible. I know that mercury is toxic, but how realistic is this process today? Can we even buy mercury?

-- Russell Brooks (russell@ebrooks.org), November 23, 2001

Answers

Here in Europe, mercuric chloride is a class A toxin, what means that you have to be registered (and argumentate it's use) to obtain the chemical. Use potassiumdichromate (not harmless tooo) or selenium. Nowadays, much trouble can be solved by using VC papers. You cannot get something out a negative what is not there.

-- Marc Leest (mmm@n2photography.com), November 23, 2001.

Mercuric chloride is extremely toxic and carcinogenic, and it accumulates in the environment. Photographer's Formulary does not stock it. However, it is available from Fotochem in Quebec.

I have read that mercury is one of the easiest to use intensifiers and gives excellent results, but these days there are strict federal regulations on disposal of mercuric waste of any kind.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), November 25, 2001.


There is no good reason to use a mercury intensifier. Period. If you need to intensify to this magnitude then you are exposing and developing the film incorrectly to begin with. Don't use it. It is an extreme toxin and should be banned from any but the most needed uses. It is cumulative in the environment. Don't use it. James

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.

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