RA-4 smell?

perkeleellinen · Mar 11, 2009

I'd like to try colour printing but I have a very small darkroom next to the sitting room:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I know this is all relative, but the Nova slot processor means I got no chemical smell in the house if I clean up well when I've finished working. Will I be able to do the same with RA-4 chemistry? What's its smell like?

My only other option would be printing in the darkroom and then using some sort of print drum and walking into the garage to do the processing.

Domin · Mar 11, 2009

I processed RA-4 in trays at room temperature and do not find the smell any more noxious than b&w. At standard RA-4 temp it may be worse but you can lower temperature safely as long as you keep it stable. I don't have the times at hand but its all here at apug forum.

Tom Kershaw · Mar 11, 2009

perkeleellinen said:
I'd like to try colour printing but I have a very small darkroom next to the sitting room:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I know this is all relative, but the Nova slot processor means I got no chemical smell in the house if I clean up well when I've finished working. Will I be able to do the same with RA-4 chemistry? What's its smell like?

My only other option would be printing in the darkroom and then using some sort of print drum and walking into the garage to do the processing.

Have you had problems with spills onto what looks like carpet from the photo?

Tom.

perkeleellinen · Mar 11, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
Have you had problems with spills onto what looks like carpet from the photo?

Tom.

Not yet!

I've got some plastic sheeting which I may put down. But the Nova processor sits in the tray and I put a washing up bowl with water next to it to transfer the prints to after fixing. I get a few dribbles when filling up the processor but they drip into the tray. I am very careful as this is a rented house. I may change things around if spillages become a problem - I've only just started using this room and I need to iron out some things yet.

Steve.

stefan4u · Mar 11, 2009

Dear Steve

Using a slot processor will definitely help to reduce unwanted smell. Most blix compositions today are nearly odor-free anyway, but often the color developer still smells fishy by the used antioxidant.

This is from Kodak:
Unfortunately, many hydroxylamines have significant vapor pressure at room temperatures, and have a characteristic unpleasant odor.

Characteristic odor = amine = can swell like (warm) fish :rolleyes:

This is true for several developers of different brands. Under normal circumstances this is no problem because adequate ventilation of the working area is presumed.
But the problem is known and if you want you can buy (nearly) odorless chemistry, the hydroxylamine was changed to mono- or di-substituted hydroxylamine antioxidants.
Some developers (mostly the room temperature kits, which unfortunately tend to use CD4 ! ) take Hydroxylaminsulphate as odorless antioxidant. Simply look out for the term odorless odor-free or something like clean air.

I know for sure that Tetenal has such chemistry, as well as Fuji. Im quite sure other mayor manufactures do have similar products. But as said before, with your Nova slot processor you already decreased the surface of processing chemicals greatly and work odorless anyway.

Regards,
Stefan

perkeleellinen · Mar 11, 2009

Thanks Stefan.

Tom Kershaw · Mar 11, 2009

You may want to look at the Fuji RA-4 kit, or the Kodak if you do greater volumes.

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/shop/categories/colour-print-chemicals/

Tom.

perkeleellinen · Mar 11, 2009

Tom - That Fuji kit needs 38 degrees. Unfortunately, I lack the space for a thermostatic processor. The Tetenal Colortec kit looks promising:

The Tetenal Colortec RA-4 Print kit is for tray processing at room temperature. It has very good keeping properties of working solution, is easy to use and odourless.

Photo Engineer · Mar 11, 2009

The Kodak chemistry (RA-RT Developer replenisher) can be used at room temp. If the Tetenal developer and/or blix come as 1 part mixes, see threads elsewhere on keeping qualities.

PE

perkeleellinen · Mar 11, 2009

I had a very informative pm, and I'm now looking at print drums rather than putting the chemistry into the Nova. Is there a down-side to using something like a Jobo print drum?

stefan4u · Mar 11, 2009

Well, its slow.

You have to wash and dry the drum after each cycle; better purchase a few of them.
Due the increased air contact the chemicals degrade much faster. There is a higher risk of dropping / splattering chemicals around during emptying the drum (and not hitting the bottle / funnel)

Just my thoughts

Regards,
Stefan

perkeleellinen · Mar 11, 2009

Ah, I never thought about the washing / drying part.

AgX · Mar 11, 2009

As alternative to a vertical slit-tank I would rather think of a RA-4 roller transport processor. (Have a look at the Thermaphot compact processors).

RA-4 smell?

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