Nova Trimate Print Processor

darekj · Jan 11, 2011

Hello, I am in the process of getting Nova Trimate processor.
At the moment I am exchanging some e-mails with someone at Nova, he says that this model is NOT for FB, only for RC. Well, 90% of my darkroom work is based on FB paper... Is that true that I can not use it with FB?

Best Regards,
Darek Jagodzinski

EdSawyer · Jan 11, 2011

They do make one for FB, not sure if it's the Trimate though.

Stan160 · Jan 12, 2011

I think the big advantage of the FB processor is that the paper is contained in a holder that supports the edges, rather than just held at two points by a clip.

I've only got 8x10 processors so paper handling is not such a big deal, but not had any problems with FB paper in my conventional Nova processors.

Ian

perkeleellinen · Jan 12, 2011

The FB processor is also inclined slightly supposedly so you can watch the development in the first tray. You can see one of them in this photo:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65271786@N00/5209751985/

There's a special clip also as Stan mentions above. But I've read here a few times of people processing fibre in the regular processors, I think by using two or three clips to support the extra weight of the fibre paper.

epavelin · Jan 12, 2011

I use a 'non-FB' 16x12" Trimate processor for FB papers with no problems whatsoever. You may need to use an extra clip for a bit more support if you are using 16x12 paper.

Ed.

Blighty · Jan 12, 2011

I use my 16x12 quad for processing RC and FB and haver no probs whatsoever. You can use 2 clips for larger sheets if you want; I always use just one for FB. Agitating the print should not be too rough in any case so this, in itself, should prevent the print tearing. When lifting the print out of the slots, I use a pair of print tongs to support the weight of the paper as this is when tearing is most likely to occur.

bdial · Jan 12, 2011

I also have a 16x12 quad, I've had no problems processing FB papers. Usually I use one clip even for 11x14, but I use two occasionally with papers that are very limp when wet. Blighty's suggestion of tongs would work too, and I may try that (thanks!).
Single weight papers might be a problem, but those have mostly disappeared anyway.

The slots on the quad are vertical, with angled slots you may want to process face up so that the back is against the side of the slot, otherwise, no worries I'd think.

Andrew4x5 · Jan 12, 2011

I have a 20x24 trimate processor, which is fine for FB. Processing FB up to 12x16 is easy with a single clip. For larger prints, I've made a jig onto which I slide a clip at each end, so that they are about 16 inches apart.

The hard part is dropping the prints into the companion Washmaster. Unlike the trimate processor, the prints love sticking to the glossy side of the slot. (Why, both sides aren't textured is a bit of a mystery.) When working on larger prints, I remove a divider to make a double-width slot, so that I can quickly drop in the print, and give it a quick wash before moving it to standard-width slot.

TheFlyingCamera · Jan 12, 2011

I have a 16x20 Nova processor. You CAN use it for fiber paper, but at the bigger sizes, it is possible for the waffle texture of the slot walls to get picked up by the print where it makes contact with the wall during development. I would advise keeping fiber prints at least one paper size smaller than the maximum size of the processor.

darekj · Jan 12, 2011

Thank you guys for your answers. I am in the process of getting Trimate (16 x 12) unit ... but the cost of shipping from England to Canada via TNT... about CAD $300 !!!!!
So, the guy from Nova is looking for a bit cheaper shipping way.

john_s · Jan 12, 2011

Andrew4x5 said:
I have a 20x24 trimate processor, which is fine for FB. Processing FB up to 12x16 is easy with a single clip. For larger prints, I've made a jig onto which I slide a clip at each end, so that they are about 16 inches apart.

The hard part is dropping the prints into the companion Washmaster. Unlike the trimate processor, the prints love sticking to the glossy side of the slot. (Why, both sides aren't textured is a bit of a mystery.) When working on larger prints, I remove a divider to make a double-width slot, so that I can quickly drop in the print, and give it a quick wash before moving it to standard-width slot.

Two good ideas here. Andrew! Any chance of a photo of the jig?

john_s · Jan 12, 2011

TheFlyingCamera said:
I have a 16x20 Nova processor. You CAN use it for fiber paper, but at the bigger sizes, it is possible for the waffle texture of the slot walls to get picked up by the print where it makes contact with the wall during development. I would advise keeping fiber prints at least one paper size smaller than the maximum size of the processor.

I haven't noticed the texture on a straight print, but I have seen the texture appear during a bleach and redevelopment toning process. Maybe moving the print a little during development would minimize this effect. (This particular print was from a large run and I might not have agitated it much if at all).

Does having the slot very clean (not easy!) make a difference?

TheFlyingCamera · Jan 12, 2011

john_s said:
I haven't noticed the texture on a straight print, but I have seen the texture appear during a bleach and redevelopment toning process. Maybe moving the print a little during development would minimize this effect. (This particular print was from a large run and I might not have agitated it much if at all).

Does having the slot very clean (not easy!) make a difference?

I'm not sure what the cause is - I've tried agitating regularly throughout the dev cycle, cleaning the devil out of the slot, and so on, but it seems to happen every few prints regardless, and it was only getting worse as time went by. Which coincided with but was not directly contributory to my move to alternative process printing. I haven't used the Nova in probably 3 or 4 years now.

Andrew4x5 · Jan 12, 2011

Hi John

Here are a couple of pictures of the jig. It is made from 50x5mm plastic edging that you can get in any hardware store.

The material is easy to cut, even with a Stanley knife. You just have to make sure that the prongs don't prevent the Nova clips from closing properly, so that they can grip the paper. The clips are 17 inches apart (centre to centre).

Andrew

topoxforddoc · Jun 28, 2011

TheFlyingCamera said:
I'm not sure what the cause is - I've tried agitating regularly throughout the dev cycle, cleaning the devil out of the slot, and so on, but it seems to happen every few prints regardless, and it was only getting worse as time went by. Which coincided with but was not directly contributory to my move to alternative process printing. I haven't used the Nova in probably 3 or 4 years now.

If you agitate the print regularly, you don't get the pattern on the print. Of course, that's no good for lith printing, which is where the FB model comes into it own. But for normal FB printing, the standard Novas are fine.

Best wishes,
Charlie
www.charlie-chan.co.uk

Blighty · Jun 28, 2011

In my experience, FB papers seem to 'hang' better in the slot than RC; that is, the curl of FB paper works to its own advantage with only the edges touching the sides of the slots.

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