Kodak Ektacolor - Dev - Starter

[Matt5791]

Thinking about moving towards the Kodak RA4 chemicals as I am going to be doing more volume - I notice that there is a "starter" required for use with the developer.

I believe this is to slow the reaction with the paper or something, but wondering is anyone can advise:

Does this require a separate bath?
Or does it in some way mix with the developer?
What does it do?

Many thanks,

Matt

 

[Lopaka]

The starter is to be added to the mixed developer to create a "tank" solution. I would suggest the RA/RT 10 liter developer. You mix up what you need for a session. You can use it in a machine or dish. It can be used at room temp or higher (20 C to 38 C). You do not need to use the starter in spite of the directions. You just have to be consistent - that is either use it or don't, and keep the same temp throughout the session for tests and final prints. Changing these parameters will change the color balance. Development and blix time vary with the temp.

Bob

 

[Photo Engineer]

I use RA/RT developer replenisher with no starter. I process at 100 F (38 C).

This can be used for 2' at 68 F (20 C) as well.

PE

 

[Matt5791]

Thanks for the help there,

Matt

 

[Tom Kershaw]

In what situation might one want to use the RA starter?

Tom.

 

[Lopaka]

In what situation might one want to use the RA starter?

Tom.

If you are setting up a machine of some sort or other system for higher volume printing where you will be using replenishment. You set up the starting tank solution with starter as per the instructions. The same developer is used without the starter for replenishment. The purpose of the starter is for this scenario - it simulates a 'seasoned' tank in which prints have been processed and replenishment done. The intention is to give consistent processing throughout an extended printing session.

Bob

 

[hka]

How does this work with a Jobo ATL Rotation processor. Do I have to use it then as a one shot developer?
Now I am using the dev. several times just by filling the bottles again with the already used dev. and blix. Counting the m² for the max. use before exhausting.
What happens when I use it with or without starter?

 

[Lopaka]

I use it in my JOBO CPP-2 as a one shot. Example: 2 8x10's in a 2830 drum will need 125 ml to properly develop the prints. (Per JOBO you cannot use less than 100 ml in a 2830). When you use it once and dump it you do not need the starter. Either use it all the time or use it never to be consistent.

If you are going to re-use the developer, to be consistent from print to print, you should use the starter the first time, then follow replenishment instructions on subsequent uses to keep developer strength consistent.

Bob

 

[wogster]

In what situation might one want to use the RA starter?

Tom.

If you take a developer, it contains certain chemicals, some of these are used up during processing, replenisher is designed to replace those. Rather then have a separate bottle for developer and a separate bottle for replenisher, they bundle up the chemicals that never need replenishing into a separate solution, this is then called starter. If you add replenisher and starter together you get developer. Because these chemicals never get used up, they are not strictly needed, eliminating them could affect results with some developers, but not necessarily all developers, it depends on how the chemistries are designed and split into replenisher and starter. For example in a developer from company X you might not need starter for home use, but the "same" developer from company Y might require the starter for home use.