RA4 in 2 bath Roller Transport, Bleach and Fix without Stop

[peoplemerge]

Yesterday, I started using a Thermaphot ACP200, which is a 2 bath 8x10 tabletop processor. I also have a monster Durst RCP 50, which is 3 baths and will print 20" wide but requires 11L of developer; and a Durst RCP 20, which is 3 bath but doesn't seem to have been converted to RA4 speed yet.

Until now, I've been doing color paper in trays, so I enjoy the automation and speed of the auto processors. My process in trays are Developer (about 3m at room temperature, equivalent using time/temp to 45s at 100F), stop (30s), bleach (2m), rinse (30s) fix (1m), wash, heat dry. I use the mixing proportions described in this post (special thanks to PE, I refer to this in my notes every time I start up RA4 printing again).

However going straight from Dev to Bleach, I wonder if I'm contaminating the bleach. But would they really sell machines if that were the case?

I had wondered if any of the following options you would do:
* use stop as 2nd bath the way I had previously, then bleach at room temperature, disadvantage is it slows the process
* to add some stop to the bleach
* monitor the pH of the bleach bath, and periodically adjust
* switch back to blix (bleach+fix as second bath) which has the disadvantage of reducing the longevity of the bath

 

[Photo Engineer]

You can do what you are doing, as long as you monitor the pH of the bleach bath and it probably should be near 5.5 for best results. You will have to regenerate and replenish the bleach and replenish the fix though, and that may include adding some Ammonium EDTA to both.

PE

 

[peoplemerge]

Thanks @Photo Engineer ! Again!