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SLIMT is a method developed by David Kachel for contrast control. The key idea behind Kachel's method is, in his own words, "instead of altering an analog photographic image in the traditional manner by changing development, SLIMTs alter the latent image itself, after exposure and, BEFORE development." Long before Kachel developed and refined SLIMT, in 1904, John Sterry had proposed "a method for reducing print contrast by bathing the print in a solution of potassium dichromate after exposure and before development." But it appears that the idea of using ferricyanide/ferrocyanide for contrast reduction at the time of development was already in practice when Wilson's Cyclopaedic Photography (revised edition) was published in 1894 (see page 192).
Wilson's Cyclopaedic Photography also talks about a rapid commercial developer called Cristallos that is based on the same idea (see page 105).
Interestingly, some time ago Kachel proposed a similar method, one of adding ferricyanide to the developer itself, which he called Monobath SLIMT though it wasn't really a monobath:
"Monobath SLIMT follows the same basic concept of mixing opposing actors, but instead of fixer, adds potassium ferricyanide to a normal film developer. At about ten or more times the concentration of a normal SLIMT, the potassium ferricyanide contrastwise bleach manages to reduce contrast of the latent image before the developer can begin to work. Theorized years ago, I never tested this until today. It works."
Wilson's Cyclopaedic Photography also talks about a rapid commercial developer called Cristallos that is based on the same idea (see page 105).
Interestingly, some time ago Kachel proposed a similar method, one of adding ferricyanide to the developer itself, which he called Monobath SLIMT though it wasn't really a monobath:
"Monobath SLIMT follows the same basic concept of mixing opposing actors, but instead of fixer, adds potassium ferricyanide to a normal film developer. At about ten or more times the concentration of a normal SLIMT, the potassium ferricyanide contrastwise bleach manages to reduce contrast of the latent image before the developer can begin to work. Theorized years ago, I never tested this until today. It works."
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