Opinions on Color Print Chemicals
Danny Mace
R4 AT kit which seemed like a logical first choice.
My question is, now that its time to buy more chemicals, does anyone
have constructive opinions on the various brands available? Is the
Besler R4-AT a good choice?
Kurt Krueger
|> Just finished my first color print session. I used the Besler
|> R4 AT kit which seemed like a logical first choice.
|>
|> My question is, now that its time to buy more chemicals, does anyone
|> have constructive opinions on the various brands available?
I've always used Kodak and have been quite pleased with the results. The last
article I read in a photog mag seems to back this up (but that was about 8 years
ago ... things may have changed).
Kodak requires higher than room temperature and wants control to 1/2 degree F.
I've discovered that consistency is much more important than absolute control.
Using a water bath or a preheated pre-soak have both given me good results.
One of the processor makers published a way to process with Kodak chemicals
at room temperature. It worked fine, but the development time increased to
something like 7 minutes. Too long for me.
I buy the large sizes and carefully measure out for 1 qt batches. MUCH cheaper
this way. Kodak doesn't recommend this, but it works just fine. Just be extra
careful that you don't contaminate your unused chemical components ... if you pour
out too much, throw it away ... don't pour it back in the bottle. And, whatever
you do, never get the bleach-fix anywhere near the developer (the vivid stains
on the prints is a sight to behold!).
Michael E. Raub
: Just finished my first color print session. I used the Besler
If you don't have a method to maintain temperatures of 95 deg. F or so,
They are very economical since with replenshmnet you use 2/3 old chems
with 1/3 fresh chems per print.
Rusty L. Atkins
I have seen a lot of people concerned about keeping chemicals at an exact
temperature.. I know most people use a tub with water in it and add water as
needed... what I thought may work good (I haven't started developing yet...
to busy learning new things about it) is to put an aquarium heater in the
water. These are usually accurate to about 1 degree. They are pretty cheap
too.
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rusty Atkins atk...@mail.msen.com
A not-so-proud citizen of the USSA... Where only crimimals can have guns.
________________________________________________________________________________
Don't Tread On Me.
Barry Sherman
> I have seen a lot of people concerned about keeping chemicals at an exact
>temperature.. I know most people use a tub with water in it and add water as
>needed... what I thought may work good (I haven't started developing yet...
> to busy learning new things about it) is to put an aquarium heater in the
>water. These are usually accurate to about 1 degree. They are pretty cheap
>too.
Good idea except for a couple of problems.
* Many color processes want temperatures controlled to +/- 1/2
degree F.
* But more importantly, there's not water circulation. Keeping
the water near the heater withing 1 degree is nice, but you
need to keep all the water within 1 degree.
Now, take that aquarium heater, add a water circulation pump
and you'll be in business.
Add a way to automatically rotate the processing drum and not
only will you be in business, you'll have a Jobo!
:-)
Barry
--
Barry Sherman, Amdahl Corp. | Over thar! The great white whale!
b...@oes.amdahl.com | Moby Rush!! He blows! He spouts! He spews!
My opinions, not Amdahl's | (almost) Herman Melville
Malcolm W
mr...@prairienet.org "Michael E. Raub" writes:
> : Besler R4-AT a good choice?
> If you don't have a method to maintain temperatures of 95 deg. F or so,
> They are very economical since with replenshmnet you use 2/3 old chems
> with 1/3 fresh chems per print.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This seems an incredable amount of replenish. For something like
an 8 x 6, I replenish 10mil/ltrs, it's only a thumb nail. But than
again you haven't said 1/3 of which quantity. It certainly can't
be 30 mils.
A Litre of replenish will give me 100 x 8-6 prints.
Be interesting to know, but I'm going away for 5 days.
--
Mal...@photom.demon.co.uk (At the Abyss Cave of the Demons)
Fax:+44 081-301 6408 [The net is a stage for oral exhibitionists]
Michael E. Raub
: In article <36vaom$g...@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu>
: mr...@prairienet.org "Michael E. Raub" writes:
: > : Besler R4-AT a good choice?
: > If you don't have a method to maintain temperatures of 95 deg. F or so,
: > They are very economical since with replenshmnet you use 2/3 old chems
: > with 1/3 fresh chems per print.
: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
:
: This seems an incredable amount of replenish. For something like
: an 8 x 6, I replenish 10mil/ltrs, it's only a thumb nail. But than
: again you haven't said 1/3 of which quantity. It certainly can't
: be 30 mils.
My 11x14 JOBO print drum requires 120ml per print, so I combine 80ml old
chems with 40ml of fresh chems. Not as efficient as a tabletop processor
but much better than one-shot.
Mike
mr...@prairienet.org