Entering the world of 16x20.. Need some advice..

[Richard Wasserman]

Yes!, you will need two hands. I use one hand for 11x14 and smaller, but 16x20s and up require two.

 

[brian steinberger]

Also, forgot to ask, can I hang 16x20 prints up on a single clothes line like I do with 11x14 and 8x10?

 

[Asha]

I realise this thread is quite ancient , nonetheless I’ll offer my workflow for souping 16x20 prints as it may help someone.

1.5 liters of each chemical in 16x20 trays for fibers prints

Never a problem , however bear in mind that I rarely develop more than one sheet at a time.
I have done two in the same chems but I wouldn’t recommend more than that without replenishing a percentage of the solutions, in particular the developer.

Initially place the paper emulsion side down for about half a minute then continual gentle agitation with the emulsion side facing upwards whilst watching the image appear.

 

[awty]

I use 200mm diameter upvc pipe with a couple of end caps, one with a hole in the centre on a drum roller. Works a treat and only need 1ltr of chemicals. Wash in a tub.

 

[snusmumriken]

You can process 16x20 in 12x16 trays, which is handy if you don't need to do it very often. You hold the print by its shorter sides, and see-saw it through the chemical, keeping it moving continuously. (I think I learned this from AA's books, if you need a pedigree for the tip.) For a secure grip, you will need to use your hands rather than tongs, so gloves are strongly advised.

To ensure even treatment, it is probably wise to use 2 litres of chemical in each tray, though normally I use only 1 litre to process 12x16 prints in a 12x16 tray. The amounts suggested above will be music to the ears of manufacturers, but 1 litre is all you need in a 12x16 tray, provided you keep rocking the tray. Of course the less chemical you use, the more aware you need to be of its processing capacity.

Using a single-tray would be fine if you are working in a deep sink, but otherwise I'd be worried about the risk of spills from all that hurried pouring - I am fussy about my darkroom! I'd imagine your stop bath will also have a shorter life as a result of developer carry-over, but if you use an indicator stop bath that will be evident in time.

 

[Steve Goldstein]

The seesaw technique in 12x16 trays has worked well for me on those few occasions when I’ve printed 16x20. I’ve even done it with 11x14 trays when printing 20” wide panoramas on cut down paper.

When using this technique be sure to use only the thumb and one finger on each hand. That’ll give you a good “pinch” hold with least risk of accidentally creasing the paper. I also frequently move my grip area. This is especially important in fixing to make sure the entire border gets fixed out.