How do you process your RA-4 paper?

Chan Tran · Mar 13, 2013

Moved in my new house a year ago. Now it's time for me to start putting up the darkroom again. I am very much satisfied with my dry side setup. My wet side left a lot to be desired. I wonder how you all do it so I can pick up some ideas. Thanks.

antmar · Mar 13, 2013

I made a lot of experiments but when I found Nova processors I never looked again for something else.
Temperature, space, chemistry life and storage, time to setup are not a problem anymore.
Hope this helps.

BMbikerider · Mar 13, 2013

I use a NOVA as well. In fact I use 2. A three slot 12x16 for colour (RA4 and a 2 slot 12x16 plus an open dish for the B&W developer. They, NOVA are the epitome of superb simple design that just work with no fuss.

The real beauty of them is the very small footprint they have when left idle or even working. My darkroom is shared by my motorcycle (actually it is my garage) so space is at a premium. As Antmar has said chemistry life is superb, the RA4 I am using at the moment was first mixed in June 2012 and just replenished after each session (100cc per 800 sq inches of paper - pro rata)

brucemuir · Mar 13, 2013

Trays and this stuff for room temp
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then this for the blix
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I run this all in trays at room temp and my sink is upstairs.

newcan1 · Mar 13, 2013

I have a really cheap setup. I use a Dev Tec drum processor that I bought in the 80's for about $50. It has a motor but I often just turn the drum by hand. It has a water bath; years ago I drilled a hole and inserted a fish tank heater through the side; it's pretty rock solid at about 98 degrees F, and I get excellent and repeatable results.

I mix my own developer, use diluted vinegar as the stop bath, and use Kodak Blix.

polyglot · Mar 13, 2013

Jobo at 35C. I'd like a Nova but have no room for one.

Ian Grant · Mar 13, 2013

Nova tanks, it's so easy, reliable.

I began colour printing withg the Pavelle process in the late 60's and used a few other processes before settling on a Nova system and Tetenal chemistry, I'd never go back . . . . . . . .

Ian

Chan Tran · Mar 13, 2013

Is the Nova intended to be used in the dark? I know the tube type processor I can use in the light.

bvy · Mar 13, 2013

Drums! I have the 8x10 drum with motor base. Super fast and super easy to use.

RPC · Mar 13, 2013

Trays at room temperature with Kodak RA-RT Developer Replenisher and Beach-Fix. Easy as b&w. No hassle with temperature control, don't have to wash and dry a drum, and small test prints are quick and easy to make. Developer seems to last and last, even in open air.

frotog · Mar 13, 2013

Fujimotos. Both 31's and 51's. I found that I need the consistency of finely temp controlled roller transport to dial in the right color bias.

OzJohn · Mar 14, 2013

frotog said:
Fujimotos. Both 31's and 51's. I found that I need the consistency of finely temp controlled roller transport to dial in the right color bias.

Hard to beat a roller processor as long as you have the volume of paper to put through and the Fujimotos are amongst the best. I don't print anymore but I still have my 51 and from memory it takes about 5 or 6 litres of each chemical which can represent an awful lot of wasted money when the soup goes off through lack of use (for those who've not used one, a replenished colour system does not save under-utilised chemicals; the most consistent processing quality and chemical longevity is obtained from machines that work for several hours a day most days). I might sell the 51 later this year if I can find anyone in Australia interested since I'm planning to turn the darkroom into a study but first I'll have to fill it with water and make sure that everything still works OK as it has not been used for several years. A job for another day. OzJohn

perkeleellinen · Mar 14, 2013

Nova for me as well, Firstly at room temp and then heated when I found one with a thermostat.

EdSawyer · Mar 14, 2013

I use Fujimotos too, CP-31 and 51. Great units. the -31 only needs 2L of chemistry. 6L for -51.

DREW WILEY · Mar 14, 2013

Gosh, I've never even bothered to plug in my roller processor. I just use drum. They're loaded in the
darkroom but actually processed outdoors, to minimize exposure to the chem, which I'm mildly sensitized to.

pentaxuser · Mar 14, 2013

Chan Tran said:
Is the Nova intended to be used in the dark? I know the tube type processor I can use in the light.

You could use a Nova by feel alone but as the paper sinks into a deep slot then a dim safelight like the Kodak colour safelight will be very safe and give just about enough light to see to use a Nova.

On the other hand a DUKA or Thompson sodium safelight could be used at quite a high illumination as nearly all of the time the paper sits too deep in the slot for light to penetrate. Unlike trays light can't shine into the slots.

A good investment for B&W as well for the reasons already mentioned

pentaxuser

brucemuir · Mar 14, 2013

I wish Nova was more available here in the US

frotog · Mar 14, 2013

DREW WILEY said:
Gosh, I've never even bothered to plug in my roller processor. I just use drum. They're loaded in the
darkroom but actually processed outdoors, to minimize exposure to the chem, which I'm mildly sensitized to.

I'm sorry to hear this Drew as I know from experience how inconvenient and tedius drum ra-4 can be in comparison to RT. If you do this with any regularity at all it would behoove you to look into a properly designed exhaust and fresh air intake for your drkrm. The amount of time you'll save will pay for the HVAC bill before you get through your first 5 litres of replenisher.

DREW WILEY · Mar 15, 2013

I've got a superb exhuast system. One just gets sensitized to certain things over time. That's the risk.
I know former lab owners who either got put out of business that way or couldn't enter certain sections
of their own lab. I suspect its amine-related. Just because something doesn't stink doesn't mean it's
safe. I have a big 30X40 processor that actually sits on a cart I can move outdoors. The only disadvantage is that the weather needs to be mild so that the temp of the chem in the drum won't
shift during processing. I've been offered a clean 50" roller processor, but don't know if I could
devise a way to safely use it. I'd need to put it in a separate outbuilding apart from my main lab. I
might sell my 20" processor. Drums are very reliable, and one doesn't have a lot of high-tech circuitry
or pumps to worry about. But they are a bit slow if doing test strips etc.

Chan Tran · Mar 15, 2013

Well I think I would continue to use tube on a rotary base. I think I would room temp as it's difficult to control the temperature while it is in the drum. Both the Nova, the Jobo and the Fujimoto is out of reach for me right now price wise.

darkroom_rookie · Mar 16, 2013

Drums. Two 16x20" Jobos, 24x24" home-made and 36x50" home-made. Kodak RT/LU with white vinegar stop. #13 safelight only when doing photograms.

frotog · Mar 16, 2013

Chan Tran said:
Well I think I would continue to use tube on a rotary base. I think I would room temp as it's difficult to control the temperature while it is in the drum. Both the Nova, the Jobo and the Fujimoto is out of reach for me right now price wise.

Temp drift and time variabilities due to manual fill and dumps are the two aspects of drum processing that will keep you from dialing in the perfect ra4 print - you'll be lucky to get within a cc point or two of neutral and once you get there making a duplicate will be well nigh impossible. If you have high standards for print quality and the ability to get there, drum or tray ra-4 processing will drive you nuts with the variability.

polyglot · Mar 16, 2013

frotog said:
Temp drift and time variabilities due to manual fill and dumps are the two aspects of drum processing that will keep you from dialing in the perfect ra4 print - you'll be lucky to get within a cc point or two of neutral and once you get there making a duplicate will be well nigh impossible. If you have high standards for print quality and the ability to get there, drum or tray ra-4 processing will drive you nuts with the variability.

A temperature controlled drum is perfectly consistent (I have produced 15+ copies of a couple prints, no visible difference even in side-by-side comparison), especially if you do the proper process-temp prewash.

If a Jobo is too much $$$ and you're handy, there are lots of instructions on the web for making a bath from an aquarium pump, kettle element and PID controller for $100ish.

Chan Tran · Mar 16, 2013

I have no problem making a tempering bath and keep the bath at correct temperature. My problem is how to keep the chemical once pour into the drum not to change. The Jobo had the drum submerged but how do I submerge my drum in my tempering bath?
I could make a higher precision tempering bath than the Jobo but I don't know how to keep my drum underwater to keep the chemical from dropping the temperature. The Jobo has the coupling and drive system which I found difficult to duplicate.

bvy · Mar 16, 2013

Is controlling the temperature precisely as important as getting results that you can reproduce? I use a tempered pre-wash with my drum, and the developer goes in at 94F. I develop for one minute and don't reuse the developer. Sure, there's temperature drift, but it doesn't vary much between processing cycles (assuming non-extreme ambient temperatures) and it averages out to the recommended 92F for this processing time. RA-4 works over a range of temperatures, so it seems like like you have some leeway.

How do you process your RA-4 paper?

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