DIY plates, questions about dyes, etc.

[Mihai]

To begin with, these last few days I've been reading almost anything I could find about sensitizing dyes for AgX on this forum (and in the archive), on APUG forum, and here and there over the internet. The guys from APUG forum use some dyes from H.W. Sands cororation, but are more expensive than pynacyanol chloride and 1,1'-diethil-2,2'-cianyne iodide
I also found out that honeywell makes some sensitizers http://www51.honeywell.com/sm/specialty ... .html?c=23 , but I think these are also very expensive.
Another interesting link is this: http://www.corchim.ru/catalog/Phot-sen_PH.html I used google translate, as it is in russian.

Ok, now the questions:
Is there any cheap dye that can be used to sensitize the emulsion to red? Even if it doesn't work very good, but just a little bit. And if there is no such thing, instead of pinacyanol chloride can I use pinacyanol bromide or pinacyanol iodide? I assume it would work, but I am asking because they're at about the same price as pinacyanol chloride, but I think I can get some of these chemicals easier than pinacyanol chloride from some local supplier.
For green sensitization, cheap alternatives are quinaldine red and rhodamine B (6G). I assume that quinaldine red can readily replace 1,1'-diethyl-2,2'-cyanine iodide in Jeff Blyth's recipe, but what about rhodamine? Would need the alcohol/water mixture, or water would be enough? AFAIK, rhodamine b is very soluble in water. Would it work to use it in a pan system ( diffuse AgNO3, plunge in LiBr+water(+alcohol)+rhodamine b, wash, again AgNO3,...pinacyanol chloride/bromide/iodide )? Rhodamine b forms some complexes with AgX, or it will be washed away?
In Jeff Blyth's recipe, can I use ethanol instead of methanol?

I think i have some more questions, but I can`t remember right now.

Thank you.

[Martin]

Another interesting link is this: http://www.corchim.ru/catalog/Phot-sen_PH.html I used google translate, as it is in russian.

I wondered about that Russian site as well. What's their prices etc.?
Another extremely useful address for spectral sensitizers is http://www.organica.de/en/Products/49,Functional_Dyes

Is there any cheap dye that can be used to sensitize the emulsion to red? Even if it doesn't work very good, but just a little bit. And if there is no such thing, instead of pinacyanol chloride can I use pinacyanol bromide or pinacyanol iodide? I assume it would work, but I am asking because they're at about the same price as pinacyanol chloride, but I think I can get some of these chemicals easier than pinacyanol chloride from some local supplier

.

I'm not aware of a cheap red sensitizing dye. Regarding pinacyanol I don't know for sure either but would guess the bromide version probably is more likely to work than the iodide one.
The above mentioned ORGANICA have a good red sensitizing dye: 3- Carboxymethyl- 3’, 9- diethyl- 5, 5’- dimethylthiacarbocyanine betaine (http://www.organica.de/en/download/1294 ... cation.pdf)

In Jeff Blyth's recipe, can I use ethanol instead of methanol?

Yes, you can.

[dannybee]

nice thread on dyes,
dyes can be added post process too (after plate is made)
also pva or a polymer will keep grain size very small like in (ULTIMATE)
iodide will boost sensitivity
also good dyes are DMAS Dimethylaminostyrylmethylpyridinium, Quinaldine Red, Rhodamine B, Rose bengal

[rzeheb]

Danny,
So is 3- Carboxymethyl- 3’, 9- diethyl- 5, 5’- dimethylthiacarbocyanine betaine your recommended choice for a red sensitizer? Are there any others you would recommend? I, like others on this board, am making a forray into multi-color and my goal is to take green sensitive film, which I have in abundance, and treat it to enhance its sensitivity to red. I have looked through the various threads on the subject and would appreciate any additional tips and/or recommendations you (or anyone else) would care to offer. Thanks.
Ron

[Valery]

for red available film VE633 Price $70. square metre.
Valery

[rzeheb]

Thanks Valery, that's good to know. But, I am trying to make the green film I bought from you panchromatic by sensitizing it to red. Can you tell me what dye you use to make your red sensitive film?
Ron