Lab rocker for lith printing

[Dwayne Martin]

Has anybody ever tried using a laboratory rocker for lith printing?

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

No. But many years ago when I bought a darkroom, it came with boxes of miscellaneous junk that I could find no apparent use for. In retrospect, one of the things I chucked was a tray rocker. Did not lith at the time, so I did not understand the value. Subsequently, I tried to fashion one myself with no success.

Rudman told me about some guy in Russia who uses a pump from a fish tank, delivering developer from the tray to a heavily perforated tray set over the print, essentially raining developer down on the print. Sounded like a big mess to me.

 

[Mike Crawford]

I haven't myself, but a friend produced a remarkable work for a project I produced titled Obsolete & Discontinued. I gave out all the expired paper of a late photographer's darkroom room to over 50 photographers and artists who produced a variety of fascinating and original work. Guy Paterson had some old, base fogged Record Rapid and cut the paper down to 8x8, exposed 9 sheets together sized to fill one enlarged negative and processed them all in the same tray of lith dev using a rocker. https://obsolete-discontinued.com/obsolete-item/guy-paterson/ Each print was then mounted on aluminium for when exhibited. I still can't imagine how he got them all so well processed together in the same tray! Installation shot below which is a little bit too red/orange.

 

[Dwayne Martin]

No. But many years ago when I bought a darkroom, it came with boxes of miscellaneous junk that I could find no apparent use for. In retrospect, one of the things I chucked was a tray rocker. Did not lith at the time, so I did not understand the value. Subsequently, I tried to fashion one myself with no success.

Rudman told me about some guy in Russia who uses a pump from a fish tank, delivering developer from the tray to a heavily perforated tray set over the print, essentially raining developer down on the print. Sounded like a big mess to me.

Sounds like a mess to me also. My concern with the lab rocker is it may rock the tray a bit too far. I’ve got my eye on one that would heat the tray and rock it which could be a very good thing.

 

[Dwayne Martin]

I haven't myself, but a friend produced a remarkable work for a project I produced titled Obsolete & Discontinued. I gave out all the expired paper of a late photographer's darkroom room to over 50 photographers and artists who produced a variety of fascinating and original work. Guy Paterson had some old, base fogged Record Rapid and cut the paper down to 8x8, exposed 9 sheets together sized to fill one enlarged negative and processed them all in the same tray of lith dev using a rocker. https://obsolete-discontinued.com/obsolete-item/guy-paterson/ Each print was then mounted on aluminium for when exhibited. I still can't imagine how he got them all so well processed together in the same tray! Installation shot below which is a little bit too red/orange.
View attachment 285891

I have no idea how he did it so well either, I can’t seem to get even two consecutive prints to look the same…

 

[Dwayne Martin]

I now have a lab rocker and it works amazingly well , the one I have actually heats the tray as well.

 

[Mike Crawford]

I now have a lab rocker and it works amazingly well , the one I have actually heats the tray as well.

Looks great. Keep on rocking!

 

[removed account4]

I worked in a portrait studio and she had 3 of them big ones for 16x20 trays. with a big growling set of cams that rotated and moved these corroded metal parts, I can still hear them.
no other way to work hand agitating prints I guess is for chumps . ( I've been a chump since before and after I worked for her ).

 

[Dwayne Martin]

I worked in a portrait studio and she had 3 of them big ones for 16x20 trays. with a big growling set of cams that rotated and moved these corroded metal parts, I can still hear them.
no other way to work hand agitating prints I guess is for chumps . ( I've been a chump since before and after I worked for her ).

I have to say it was nice being able to walk away from the tray last night.

 

[sasah zib]

a large rocker allows multiple prints at same time.
either for an edition or for controlled variations.
I replenish after 3 11x14 or 2 16x20 prints. approx 3ml per print.


Old lab rule of thumb for 'exhausing' developer [tanning,etc]: mix for 4, process 3 sheets only

 

[radiant]

I have to say it was nice being able to walk away from the tray last night.

I built myself automatic tank agitator few years ago and I know the feeling.

I'm going to built tray rocker too.

 

[faberryman]

Will a rocker tray or a tray rocker really make your prints better?

 

[Dwayne Martin]

Will a rocker tray or a tray rocker really make your prints better?

Will a rocker tray or a tray rocker really make your prints better?

Certainly not but it does rock at exactly the same pace the whole time so I suppose that’s counts for something. The real benefit is that you can multi task while it’s rocking. Also it’s very clean, I usually manage to get developer all over the place hand rocking, with this thing I don’t spill a drop.

 

[MattKing]

Will a rocker tray or a tray rocker really make your prints better?

I am not a lith printer, but some of my friends are.
As I understand it, consistent, randomized continuous agitation is required and developing times of several minutes are not uncommon. That is tough on the back.

 

[mshchem]

I scrounged a genuine Calumet rocking print washer. It enormous. Easily accommodates a 20x24 print. The other day I was thinking, I rarely use it for washing prints, I have been wanting to try using it for a tray rocker. I put two Paterson 12x16 inch trays in side by side. I'm able to accommodate 2 liters of solution in each tray, rocks back and forth beautifully.
I'm going to need to start lith printing, toning, or maybe hypo clear? It would make a good archival washer. Spend the last half hour to 20 minutes split between the two trays with water.

 

[radiant]

I am not a lith printer, but some of my friends are.
As I understand it, consistent, randomized continuous agitation is required and developing times of several minutes are not uncommon. That is tough on the back.

I typically don't agigate liths most of the time. First minute to get paper straight, then I leave it there for 5 minutes. When picture starts to appear I agigate once in a while.

If I can cut the development time with constant agitation it is worth it. I have huge amount of frames from summer waiting to be lith printed.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Lab surplus auctions sometimes have these rockers
Just Google around and sign up for notifications

 

[Dwayne Martin]

I typically don't agigate liths most of the time. First minute to get paper straight, then I leave it there for 5 minutes. When picture starts to appear I agigate once in a while.

If I can cut the development time with constant agitation it is worth it. I have huge amount of frames from summer waiting to be lith printed.

I’ve never heard of this approach, sounds a bit like stand developing. Could this increase edge sharpness in a
It’s print…?

 

[radiant]

I’ve never heard of this approach, sounds a bit like stand developing. Could this increase edge sharpness in a
It’s print…?

I don''t think that is so uncommon.. Sharper? We will see it when I start to use the rocker

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I’ve never heard of this approach, sounds a bit like stand developing. Could this increase edge sharpness in a
It’s print…?

Won't do anything for edge sharpness, but you can cut contrast quite a bit with stand developing a print. I've done it before but not for a long time. I used to use it for night shots when the contrast range was insane. I don't know what effect it would have on a lith print. My guess is it would end up being a bit splotchy or muddy due to the nature of lith. Then again I could be wrong. Only one way for you to find out....

 

[radiant]

Only one way for you to find out....

One way is to look at my prints, all done with this "technique" :

http://kuvau.tuu.fi/separated/
http://kuvau.tuu.fi/storey/
http://kuvau.tuu.fi/birds-pt-2/
http://kuvau.tuu.fi/hay/

 

[faberryman]

One way is to look at my prints, all done with this "technique"

Very nice work.

 

[btaylor]

One way is to look at my prints, all done with this "technique" :

http://kuvau.tuu.fi/separated/
http://kuvau.tuu.fi/storey/
http://kuvau.tuu.fi/birds-pt-2/
http://kuvau.tuu.fi/hay/

2nd that- beautiful prints!

 

[Dwayne Martin]

One way is to look at my prints, all done with this "technique" :

http://kuvau.tuu.fi/separated/
http://kuvau.tuu.fi/storey/
http://kuvau.tuu.fi/birds-pt-2/
http://kuvau.tuu.fi/hay/

Those are fine prints no doubt about it….

 

[radiant]

Thank you.

My guess is that agitation doesn't affect that much or even at all. Missing agitation just slows down the process a bit?

I've built prototype of tray rocker so I'm going to try it on next printing session.