D-19
D-19 is Kodak's high-contrast MQ film developer — a vigorous formulation using sodium carbonate as the alkali activator (vs D-76's milder borax) for fast, high-contrast development. D-19 is the developer of choice when contrast amplification is the goal: copy work, document reproduction, line drawings, and astrophotography subjects with naturally low brightness range that benefit from contrast lift.
Key features
- High-contrast MQ chemistry: 2.2 g Metol + 90 g sodium sulfite + 8 g hydroquinone + 52 g sodium carbonate + 5 g potassium bromide per 1L stock
- Fast development: 4-6 minutes for most films at standard development (vs D-76's 9-10 min)
- Carbonate buffering: produces aggressive high-contrast development at pH ~10
- Tray life as one-shot: working solution is one-shot use; concentrate keeps 6 months sealed
Workflow
Use stock or 1:1 dilution depending on how aggressive you want the contrast lift:
| Use case | Film | Dilution | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy work / line drawings | Tri-X / HP5+ | Stock | 4-5 min |
| Astrophotography | Tri-X / Tech Pan | Stock | 5-6 min |
| Pictorial push (rare) | Tri-X | 1:1 | 8-10 min for EI 800-1600 |
Practical notes
- D-19 is not for routine pictorial work — the contrast is too high for normal subjects
- Mix Metol first into 750 ml water at 50°C, then sulfite, then hydroquinone, then carbonate, finally bromide
- Stock keeps 6 months sealed; partial bottles oxidize within 3 months
- PPE: nitrile gloves and eye protection
Related recipes
- [[recipe-d-76|D-76]] — the routine alternative; lower contrast, gentler buffering
- [[recipe-d-72-film|D-72 Film Use]] — using Dektol on film for similar high-contrast effect
- [[recipe-pyrocat-hd|Pyrocat-HD]] — staining alternative with built-in compensation
Mixing Instructions
Start with 750 ml of water at 52 °C (125 °F).
- Dissolve Metol first, stirring until clear.
- Add sodium sulfite and stir until dissolved.
- Add hydroquinone and stir until dissolved.
- Add sodium carbonate and stir until dissolved — the solution will fizz slightly.
- Add potassium bromide and stir.
- Add water to make 1 liter.
Let cool to 20 °C. Stock solution keeps 2-3 months. Use at stock strength for maximum contrast.
Ingredients for 1L of Stock Solution
Volume:
ml
| # | Chemical | Role | Qty (1L) | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metol | Developing Agent | 2.2 | g | |
| 2 | Sodium Sulfite | Preservative | 72.0 | g | |
| 3 | Hydroquinone | Developing Agent | 8.8 | g | |
| 4 | Sodium Carbonate | Accelerator | 48.0 | g | |
| 5 | Potassium Bromide | Restrainer | 5.0 | g |
Process Parameters
Temp:°C
| Film Stock | ISO | Dilution | Temp | Time | Agitation | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilford HP5+ 400 | 400 | stock | 20.0°C | 5:45 | Continuous first 30s, then 10s every 60s | Massive Dev Chart | |
| Kodak Tri-X 400 | 400 | stock | 20.0°C | 6:00 | Continuous first 30s, then 10s every 60s | Kodak Technical Data | High contrast. Suitable for copy work. |
| Kodak Tri-X 400 | 1600 | stock | 20.0°C | 9:00 | Continuous first 30s, then 10s every 60s | Kodak Technical Data | Aggressive push. High contrast, heavy grain. |