I have two questions regarding pyro: What are the brand names of the available-if any- commercial pyro formulas? (in europe)

How do you compare the acutance it produces with high definition developers? I read it is capable of producing high degree of acutance esp. in highlights.

thanks

-- xosni (xosni@gega.net), April 21, 2001

Answers

I believe Silverprint in England sells PMK. But most pyro formulas must be hand-mixed. Pyro is not famed so much for acutance as for luminous high values that can be printed, no matter how bright they are. But on the other hand the tanning effect of the developing agent does prevent grain migration and can enhance edge effects. In my opinion, pyro does not produce the high acutance that can be had from Rodinal, but it isn't nearly as likely to blow out the high values either.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), April 21, 2001.

Xosni,

Lotus View Camera at in Austria (http://www.lotusviewcamera.at/chemicals_e.html) sells PMK and Rollo Pyro and their service and support is excellent. The goods arrived here (Portugal) in excellent conditions and only in a few days.

Good luck

Manuel

-- Manuel Gomes Teixeira (punctumgt@netc.pt), April 22, 2001.

I find the shape of the grains and impression of sharpness of a Delta 400 negative processed in Pyro better than that same film in any other developer I know. Rodinal works better for T-Max films, but for delta I found it less than ideal. To get speed out of that film, I use it in X-Tol, but the grain becomes much less pleasing.

I also live outside of the US, and ordered Pyro PMK from Photographer's Formulary. Very quick efficient service with reasonable shipping rates and excellent service. You can e-mail them at formulary@montana.com.

Raja

-- Raja A. Adal (d60w0635@ip.media.kyoto-u.ac.jp), April 23, 2001.

I find PMK to be a very sharp developer; The Film Developing Cookbook ranks it right higher than Rodinal. If it seems to have less acutance, that may be because the stain helps mask the grain. Less grainy sometimes looks less sharp. I've had wonderful results and would encourage you to try it. And, yes, pyro separates highlight values like no other developer.

-- Brian Hinther (BrianH@sd314.k12.id.us), April 26, 2001.

But what are the difference between ABC pyro, PMK & other formulas of pyro?

-- xosni (xosni@gega.net), April 26, 2001.

It's been nearly ten years since I used a pyro formula other than PMK. I did use ABC Pyro briefly, with pretty good results, and also the W2D2 formula. Everyone seems to agree that PMK is the best formulation they have found, primarily because it offers higher speed and more even staining. The older formulas could sometimes give inconsistent results. According to Hutchings, with older formulas the staining took place during development and all sorts of variables could affect it, but Hutchings claims (and this has been my experience) that PMK stains AFTER development, so the staining action is very consistent. I have read other people claim that PMK provides more stain than other formulas, but (looking through some of my older negative) I seem to have gotten pretty good stain from W2D2 and ABC. I mostly photograph out-of-doors in Texas, Mexico, and the Southwest where the sun shines and the tonal ranges almost always exceed 7 stops. PMK allows me to capture and reproduce the full tonal range of my subjects--good shadow detail and unparallelled detail in the high values.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), April 27, 2001.