Re: What is PQ?

[petermarshall@cix.co.uk (Peter Marshall)]

> >Maybe I missed it, but what is PQ?
> 
> Phenidone Hydroquinone (PQ) is a commercially produced print and film 
> developer which has been around for many years.
> BTW.   15 large eggs cost about one dollar. How is the Albumen printing 
> going? Best wishes with your low contrast negs.
>                        John Grocott-Photographist and Direct Carbon 
> Printer.
> 
> 
John

I think you probably mean Ilford PQ Universal. 

Other manufacturers have also sold products called PQ developers (I 
think I used a Paterson one) with slightly different formulations, though 
it was Ilford who introduced phenidone as a safer replacement for metol 
way back. PQ Universal is a good paper developer and I also used it for 
most of my large format negs, especially when I wanted higher than normal 
contrast for alt processes as it gives low fog levels.

I think in the USA it may just be sold as Ilford Universal Developer - 
which is listed in the B&H catalogue and I suspect is the same.

Peter Marshall
Photography Guide at About          http://photography.about.com/
email: photography.guide@about.com
_________________________________________________________________
London's Industrial Heritage: http://petermarshallphotos.co.uk/
The Buildings of London etc:  http://londonphotographs.co.uk/
Also on Fixing Shadows:       http://www.people.virginia.edu/~ds8s
and elsewhere......