Photogramm RA4 (reversal) is fun.

[Jan de Jong]

This week finally brought myself to doing something with the RA4 process again. Couple of handy things I found. Since I wanted to use the paper for photogramms i needed a light on the ceiling. Went shopping in a shop with a lot of Action and found a big collection of possible useful things. Finally saw a cheap set of re-chargeable RGB leds with remote control. They have a sticky plate and can be attached magnetically to that, so you can charge them easy.
To be honest this is the best buy i have ever done for the dark-room. Never had a switch to go from one type of light to the other.
For the Fujicolor crystal archive paper I found that the Orange setting is very close to neutral of the paper. Good enough for laying some flowers direct on the paper and exposing. The 25% setting allows photogramms of the flowers I used in about 10 seconds. Distance from the ceiling to the paper is about 1.5 meters.
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For the process I loose on the rules, so not checking the temperature but 8 degrees Celsius is a bit low. Today started the wood stove and made a bit warmer. Just want to encourage persons not to take the high and constant temperatures as requirement for color RA4 processing. Today I worked between 11 and 18 degrees. I mean for photogramms. for reproducing precise photo prints from negatives that is something else.
Very happy with the results though.

Most difficult is to make a composition with flowers in complete darkness pfff.

RGB led exposure (Orange 25% power) for 10 seconds.
in the dark all
Development with Retro 320 developer about 3 minutes (tray)
Rinse in water now Lights ON for second exposure and from here you can work in the light.
2nd development with RA4 color developer (till I like or completion)
Rinse,
C41 Bleach till white back ground
Rinse
Fix ( I used normal Ilford rapid fix)
Rinse
Dry
Ready.

Thought I share this to inspire others in springtime.

cheers
Jan.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Nice

 

[mshchem]

Very good!!!

 

[koraks]

Very nice indeed, well done!

 

[Daniela]

Beautiful results and I love that you're playful with the process too. You never know what surprises you might get!

 

[Jan de Jong]

Beautiful results and I love that you're playful with the process too. You never know what surprises you might get!

Thanks I am happy with it, except the composition however it seems to work. Yes did not in my dreams hope for the vivid colors thought I would have to make many trials to get some yellow at least. The image is actually normal white in real, here a bit skewed by the iPhone and lamp light.

 

[Jan de Jong]

Exploring the RA4 reversal a bit more, of course the tulip is to thick to show its colors while keeping the other parts in exposure. So I have stepped up and tried to do the split color and burning
Like a kid for the first time in the toy-store, endless new possibilities

Fuji Crystal Archive paper
1st developer Foma Retro developer apox 3 minutes @10 degrees C
2nd developer RA4 developer also @10 degrees C
C41 bleach till white (10 degrees C also)
Ilford Rapid fix @10 degrees C also.
final wash.


7 seconds Orange + 7 seconds Red burnt on flower (with round mask). At the same time I was experimenting with keeping the 1st bw development a bit shorter that gives the slight yellow background. Interesting anyway

Exposure through round mask moving vertical emphasis on flower Orange LED about 3 seconds. Fully developed 1st development.

4-5 seconds "white LED" through round mask moving it a bit in the flower area. Colors very intense blue, cyan and looks green in the darker spot, black at the bottom leaf.

Cheers Jan.

 

[koraks]

Magnificent! It's really uncanny; they look like illustrations, yet there's a photographic 'realness' to them at the same time. The colors are delicious! Really, really nice.

 

[Jan de Jong]

Magnificent! It's really uncanny; they look like illustrations, yet there's a photographic 'realness' to them at the same time. The colors are delicious! Really, really nice.

Thanks, especially the first looks to come from an old book with plant drawings. Red I find is difficult to produce, maybe try another day with hotter chemicals.
I tried with the lower ones for a mysterious look but that completely failed. Tried to dim the LED by sticking something over it, but the remote control then no longer works seems the sensor is in there also.

Really happy with the results, and playing with the chemicals while watching the action of the development.