Pyrocat HD

Pyrocat HD
is a semi-compensating, high-definition developer, formulated by Sandy King. The advantages of formula include greater effective film speed, shorter development times, consistent staining action, lower toxicity, and no streaking or mottling with reduced agitation. Users have reported reduced printing times with UV light sources due to the different stain color, as well as reduced base plus fog density in rotary processors.

Pyrocat MC
is a high acutance developer formulated by Sandy King as an alternative to other pyrogallol based staining developers. Pyrocat-MC gives negatives of fine grain and full emulsion speed and is suitable for all types of development methods, including rotary, normal agitation, minimal agitation and stand development. Pyrocat-MC is slightly more energetic (faster working) than Pyrocat-HD and gives very low general stain (Base+Fog) with very long development times, making it ideal when developing negatives to the high CI needed for printing with alternative processes.

Overview: General Articles
An Introduction to Pyro Staining Developers on Unblinking Eye
Pyrocat HD Film Developer on Unblinking Eye
Testing Pyrocat HD on Unblinking Eye

How To Mix: Formulas and Instructions
Pyrocat Versions and Mixing Directions How to Mix Various Pyrocat Formulas
Pyrocat HD from Photographer's Formulary
Pyrocat HD in Glycol from Photographer's Formulary
Pyrocat MC from Photographer's Formulary
Preserving Pyrocat with a Wine Bottle Vacuum Pump

Divided Pyrocat a 2-Bath Compensating Developer
Divided Pyrocat on the Large Format Forum (General Discussion)
Divided Pyrocat HD on the Large Format Forum (Uneven Development)
Divided Pyrocat-HD on Analog Photography Users Group

Where to Purchase
Pyrocat HD Developer Kit at Bostick &Sullivan
Pyrocat HD Developer Kit at Lotus View Camera
Pyrocat Film Developer Kits at Photographer's Formulary
Pyrocat HD Film Developer Kit at Photo-Supplies

Make Your Own: Chemistry and Supplies
Artcraft Chemicals - Chemistry Supplies
Digital Truth Technical Data - Photographic Formulas & Chemistry
Jack's Photographic and Chemistry Site - Photographic Formulas & Chemistry
Unblinking Eye - Articles about Alternative Processes and Formulas

Gallery of Photographs
Gallery Page - Sample Photographs Developed in Pyrocat

Photographers Who Use Pyrocat
Photographers Page - Links to Web Sites

Other Pyro Formulas
510-Pyro by Jay DeFehr
Hypercat by Jay DeFehr
Gordon Hutching's PMK at Bostick and Sullivan
The Book of Pyro by Godon Hutchings, on Amazon.com
Wimberly's WD2D by Bob Herbst on Unblinking Eye
Pyrocat Film Developer Kits at Photographer's Formulary - Too many Pyro formulas to list !

Suggestions, Corrections ?
To contact us via email, click here: admin@pyrocat-hd.com

Sandy King
is a photo historian and landscape photographer, working primarily with large format and ultra large format cameras. He prints primarily with alternative processes, including carbon, kallitype and palladium, and is the author of The Book of Carbon and Carbro.

Sandy has a Ph.D. in Spanish Language and Literature, and taught for many years at Clemson University. His research focused on the history of photography in Spain, and he has published several books in the area of Pictorialism. He recently retired from Clemson University, but still lives nearby in Easley, South Carolina.