Can unmixed Dektol (in its powdered form) go bad. I brought home some Dektol from a newspaper darkroom (they went digital), but when I mixed it in the 90-100 degree water, it turned more brown than I'm used to seeing. I'm used to fresh Dektol having a sort of very light copper color to it. What happened? Also, how should Ethol LPD paper developer look when it's mixed? The batch I mixed this evening looks brown. Is this normal? Thanks in advance for your comments.

-- Ben Calwell (bcalwell@aol.com), March 27, 2002

Answers

The Dektol has oxidized and is not usable. Even in the envelope, a small amout of oxygen can enter, and over time, the developer is ruined.

-- Louis Jensen (jenluc@ix.netcom.com), March 27, 2002.

Ordinarily LPD is light golden but the most recent batch I mixed is a somewhat brown solution. Works normally though.

-- John Hicks (jhicks@bellsouth.net), March 28, 2002.