ADOX MCP creases and curls a lot...do you have the same problem?

Beef · 2010-02-02T01:18:13+00:00

Hi Leute, ich benutz seit längerem das neue Adox MCP. Früher habe ich Adox EasyPrint und Fomaspeed verwendet. Wegen der genialen Gradationsfähigkeit war/bi...

Beef

Hi everyone, I’ve been using the new Adox MCP for quite a while now. I used to use Adox EasyPrint and Fomaspeed. I was – and still am – blown away by the MCP’s brilliant gradation. However, I’ve now noticed that the MCP warps very, very badly as it dries… like a gutter. There’s a real tension in it and when you bend it back and forth it makes a proper “pop pop” sound (like a beer can or something) :D I’ve now taken some old Fomaspeed prints to compare… this one is really nice and supple (and not so stiff) and lies flat. Is it the same for you? I always dry the paper normally on a line with pegs. But even if you somehow force the MCP to dry flat, it warps badly afterwards with temperature fluctuations. The Fomaspeed, on the other hand, is always nice and flat, just like prints from a large-format lab. Am I doing something wrong, or does the MCP simply have this (not so pleasant) characteristic? I’d appreciate any tips... otherwise, my next order will be Fomaspeed again :ph34r: Regards Andi

WHZ

Hi everyone, I’ve been using the new Adox MCP for quite a while now. I used to use Adox EasyPrint and Fomaspeed. I was – and still am – blown away by the MCP’s brilliant gradation. However, I’ve now noticed that the MCP warps very, very badly as it dries… like a guttering. There’s a real tension in it and when you bend it back and forth it makes a proper “pop pop” sound (like a beer can or something) :D I’ve just taken some old Fomaspeed prints out for comparison... this one is really nice and supple (and not so stiff) and lies flat. Is it the same for you? I always dry the paper normally on a line with pegs. But even if you somehow force the MCP to dry flat, it warps badly afterwards with temperature fluctuations. The Fomaspeed, on the other hand, is always nice and flat, just like prints from a large-format lab. Am I doing something wrong, or does the MCP simply have this (not so pleasant) characteristic? I’d appreciate any tips... otherwise, my next order will be Fomaspeed again :lol: Regards Andi

Hi Andi, I think you’re leaving it in the water for too long; that happens to me sometimes too, with the ‘original’ Agfa MCP. Try significantly shortening the final wash. Best wishes Wolfgang

Beef

Hi Wolfgang, thanks for the tip. Hmm, but that’s not at all good for my situation :-D I don’t have a sink in my darkroom, so I always pop the papers into a bucket of water after fixing and then rinse them once I’ve finished everything. They can end up sitting in there for up to two hours :lol: But I don’t have any other option :D And I don’t think just using the bucket of water for rinsing is enough, as the water gets more and more mixed with the fixer from print to print... or is that not such a big deal? I usually have about 5 to a maximum of 10 prints (10x15) in 10 litres of water. Are there perhaps any other tricks? :) Regards Andi

HenningH

Hi Andi, Just put two more 10-litre buckets next to them and let each print sit in each bucket for a minute – that’s more than enough for such a small number of PE prints. I’ve been doing it this way since 2006 and so far every print is still in brilliant condition. :lol: Best regards, Henning

Beef

Just put two more 10-litre buckets next to it and let each print sit in each bucket for a minute; that’s more than enough for such a small number of PE prints.

Hi Henning, You’re right, thanks – I can’t believe I didn’t think of that myself, what an idiot :lol: I’m really curious to see if the MCP will actually lie nice and flat afterwards :) I’ll let you know how it goes :D Cheers Andi