How do you process your RA-4 paper?

Chan Tran · May 12, 2006

I just discovered apug.org a couple days ago and I am very glad that a large number of members/subcribers are into darkroom work. I feel I am pretty well setup on the dry side but I think I need to make improvement on them wet side. I currently using a unicolor drum with a motor base. I use a roaster oven with additional temperature control as my tempering bath for the chemicals. While I can maintain a very accurate temperture of my chemicals, I feel that the temperture is not quite right as chemicals would cool down during processing. I use a pocket pc with a program I wrote as the timer.
I would like to hear how you process your paper.

srs5694 · May 12, 2006

I'm still pretty new at color paper processing, but so far I've done mine with a drum and roller base, but at room temperature (70F, give or take a bit). My understanding is that RA-4 chemistry will work fine at room temperature, but you need longer developing times (or changes to the chemistry) and possibly changes to filtration when exposing the paper. Certainly I've gotten some prints with quite good color (to my eyes) at room temperature -- and many that aren't so good, but I think that's filtration issues.

That said, I find the procedure with these materials to be tedious, mainly because of the need to wash and dry the drum for every print. I'm thinking of trying tray processing, despite the fact that I'd have to fumble around in the dark. Others have posted that this works fine, but I have yet to try it.

Nick Zentena · May 12, 2006

You're using a toaster oven?

I use a picnic cooler filled with water. The water is heated with a 300 watt fish heater [might be 350 watts]. Other then that Jobo drums on a unicolor motorbase. I have no problems with temperture control for RA-4 or C-41.

Photo Engineer · May 12, 2006

RA-RT developer replenisher can be used from 68 deg F to 100 deg F with proper changes in development time and filtration.

I use 2' at 68 deg F and 1' at 100 deg F with about a 10 cc yellow correction at the lower temperature.

That works fine with me.

BLix is 2'30" at 68 and wash is about 10' at 68.

I use a stop after the developer all the time, and only use a prewet in drum processing. I usually use a tray at 68 F but have used a drum.

PE

Chan Tran · May 12, 2006

I am sorry I meant to use a roaster oven. The Halmilton Beach 18qt. I just fill it with 2 gallons of water.

jd callow · May 12, 2006

I use a 26 inch roller transport processor. 45" each in both blix and dev @ 94f (is what I believe the machine is set at) and 3 bath wash of 45" each @ ~90f. I use Kodak RA RT and replenish as according to Kodak spec's.

langedp · May 13, 2006

Jobo processor and drums. CPP-2 with lift feature if you can. Excellent temp control. Capacity up to 20x24" prints. Does an excellent job with film as well. I started with a CPA-2 and traded up for the CPP-2. I've recently traded up to the ATL-2300 and couldn't be happier. All used of course from eBay.

Neal · May 13, 2006

In trays at room temperature, no safelight (with gloves!). 2 minutes for developer.

Neal Wydra

Ed Sukach · May 13, 2006

If you perform the wash cycle IN the drum - I always do in the JOBO CPP-2, I've found it unnecessary to wash and dry the drum again before the next print. The only extra step necessary is to dry the drum by wiping it out with a high-tech wad of paper towels.

game · May 13, 2006

I use a metfrom 7060 develloping machine filled with rapidocolor chemicals.
it is possible too to use dfifferent room temperature chemicals, and then use trays and gloves.

digiconvert · May 13, 2006

I had been using trays at room temp (Paterson chemistry) but have just got a unicolor drum from eby. The drum is taking some getting used to but it means I don't get the smell of chemicals in my room and setting up is quicker. New to darkroom work altogether but tray prints were going just fine , not perfrct but acceptable. Have fun !

htmlguru4242 · May 13, 2006

Posted by Neal:

In trays at room temperature, no safelight (with gloves!). 2 minutes for developer.

Ok, so I'm NOT insane for doing this ... I occasionally do RA-4 in trays at about 68 F as well (and get a lot of "who does color processig in trays?"

LOL - it works ...

Neal · May 14, 2006

"Ok, so I'm NOT insane for doing this ..."

Not necessarily. However, you won't be the only one in your ward. ;>)

Neal Wydra

Chan Tran · May 15, 2006

Thank you for all the replies. The Jobo ATL1000 seems best for me although expensive. I thought the ATL is only for film and not paper?

Stack8 · May 15, 2006

How do you process RA-4 color paper

The process specs. for the RA-4 process are dev. 45 sec @ 95F plus or minus 1/2 degree at a replenishment rate of 15ml per square foot. Bleach/Fix 45 sec. @ 86- 95F. Rep rate here is 20 ml per square foot. When using an RT developer from Kodak or Fuji-Hunt the rep. rate will be higher. Roller transport processors are very harsh on developers and they will tend to oxidize developers at lower rep rates. Also, remember mix no more developer replenisher than you expect to use in one week. And store the replenisher in a tank with a floating lid to help prevent oxidation

I'm sure tray processing at 68 degrees can be done, but remember that you may see an increase in stain. This would been seen in the whites. Also over concentrating developers will also increase the D-Min or stain.

Nick Zentena · May 16, 2006

Chan Tran said:
Thank you for all the replies. The Jobo ATL1000 seems best for me although expensive. I thought the ATL is only for film and not paper?

The bigger ATLs will easily handle the paper drums. The 1000 is pretty small if I remember. 8x10 only?

nworth · May 16, 2006

I use a Jobo CPP2 with a lift. It's very convenient. I find that a stop bath after the developer is essential for consistent, good results. (A water rinse might also work, but a stop bath is sure and easy. Just dumping in the blix is a definite no-no.) For a low cost machine (more or less) processor, you might investigate the DevTec. I used one for years, and they work great. A temperature control unit is available, but it costs almost as much as the processor. I used an immersible fish tank heater-thermostat, and it worked just fine.

Larry L · May 23, 2006

RA-4 Processing

I use a "roaster pan" which holds about 2 gallons of water. This sits on a food warming tray connected to 120 VAC via a rotary light dimmer switch. I put a quart of stop bath is a jug between the developer and fixer containers and put a glass photography thermometer in the jug (all three containers are sitting in this bath at this point). Make small adjustments to the light dimmer - raise a lot if over 3 degrees too low - lower a lot if too hot. Once at set point of 88F I can easily hold the temperature to less than 1/2 F variation over an hour or longer.

Prints are processed in drums on a Beseller roller base. Have drums from 8X10 to 16X20. 90 Deg. F water rinse for 30 seconds, 1 min. 45 seconds at 88F, 30 second stop bath rinse, 30 second fresh water rinse at 90F, 1 min. beach fix and then 2-3 minute wash in a 10 gallon wash tub configured with plumbing fittings from the hardware store in such a manner that a water jet shooting tangent to the inside wall circulates the entire contents around very slowly. A couple 1/2 inch holes 1-2 inches below the top serves as the overflow.

How do you process your RA-4 paper?

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