Reversal RA-4 Process Developer

I have experimented with the usual reversal RA4 process, but the contrast has been very high. Could I try using a low contrast first developer like D-23 (I've heard of it used for prints and happen to have some) be used to lower the contrast to within printable range or should I attempt contrast masking?

In a recent experiment I loaded the paper into an 8x10 camera and was able to get good prints in the "studio" under tungsten light. However, I was using an entire pack of printing filters just to get the light warm enough. If I were to do it in practice I would need a base filter of about my filter pack(85Y, 85M or something like that) plus the 85B filter, so I don't have a stack of gels 3 inches thick.

The process:
First Developer (Any B+W Dev.)
Stop/wash-Turn on lights
RA-4 Developer
Blix
Wash

The paper has a tungsten balance if shot in-camera and an ISO of about 25 is a good starting point. I think after filtration, you will probably be at about ISO 6.

Your process looks ok, but as you say, a low contrast first developer may help. I have found adding 1 g/l - 5 g/l of Sodium Sulfite to the color developer helps reduce contrast. Be careful though, it can reduce contrast and dmax very rapidly and lead to red blacks.

A contrast mask is probably the best route, but I have not worked with it for months due to the emulsion work.

PE

Hi
This looks like it might be a bit of me.
A couple of questions :-
Developing, as a start point what time/temp/dilution would I use the for say Tetenal Varispeed W or Ilford Multigrade or are we talking film developer ?
I have some Kodak bleach fix RA – 4 RA – 4 ECM would this be suitable for Blix and again where should I start for time/temp/dilution ? and again for the Ektacolor RA developer ?

Best Regards

Rob

Rob;

All of the times and temperatures are listed in many other posts. Just about any blix will work, but it is never advisable to use a film developer with paper due to the solvents and restrainers in film developers. You can use paper developers with film, but you can suffer speed changes and image quality changes.

PE

I diluted the developer 1:3 and used 4 minutes in the first developer. Contrast was a little low (!) I think. It was weird. It's never normal. The best reversal prints I have gotten were from the 8x10 experiment.

Will research !

Hi PE and tiberiustibz,

Thanks, I will research this. It’s an option I had not thought of.

Best Regards
Have brilliant Christmas.

Rob