Develop large prints in the rain gutter

Quirin · 2008-02-21T08:37:18+00:00

Hallo, hat jemand Erfahrung, wie man große Abzüge (100 x 150 cm mit Fomaspeed von der Rolle) selber entwickelt. Wie ich gehört habe, macht man das zweckmäßi...

Quirin

Hello, Does anyone have any experience of developing large prints (100 x 150 cm using Fomaspeed from a roll) yourself? I’ve heard that the best way to do this is in a gutter sealed at both ends, through which you feed the paper in a rolled-up state. On the one hand, that sounds plausible, as it means the paper doesn’t crease so easily, but I can’t quite picture how it works. How can you ensure that the chemical is applied evenly and for the same length of time across the whole surface? Are there no problems if the wet, rolled-up paper touches and lies on top of itself? Or, once the paper comes out of the chemical bath, do you not roll it up at all, but instead have two people pull it back and forth through the trough repeatedly? Has anyone done this before and can give me some tips? We’re organising an exhibition with students and want to make about 20 large prints ourselves. Best regards, Quirin

zensusa

Hello Quirin, Here’s a *system* I actually used a few years back, which can even be operated by just one person. I’ve also included a quick sketch to help you understand it better. You’ll need the following items: 1 x large, foldable clothes horse with a removable drying rack. (Available in almost any DIY store) 1 x large, long window box or other container for the chemicals. (Must, of course, match the size/width of the paper) 2 x clamps/similar to a clipboard (Also available in DIY stores or art supply shops) 4 x thin wooden slats (plastic or similar will also work). Length should match the width of the photographic paper. 1 x clothesline or string. You’ll need to experiment to find the right length. Instructions: - Place a slat on each side at both ends of the photographic paper and clamp them together in the middle with the clamp. The photographic paper now unfolds like a Japanese scroll. So, wooden strips at both ends prevent the paper from folding back in on itself. A clamp strip in the middle serves as a fastening for the string or as a handle. Attach the line to one of the clamp strips and drape it over the clothes horse rail. Then hold the line in one hand and the clamp (to which no line is attached) in the other. The photographic paper hangs partly in the *flower box*. By pulling on the line and guiding it with your hand on the clamp, you move the paper (up and down) through the chemicals. That’s all there is to it, and it works quite well. If you have a second person, you can even simply have them pull the *developing chemical tray* away and slide the stopper, or fixing tray etc., into this position. This means the paper remains on the rack until washing. With a bit of practice – I’d recommend doing a few dry runs first, perhaps using a piece of old wallpaper – it should work a treat. Until then, good luck Lothar [ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

Quirin

Hi Lothar, That sounds great; we’ll give it a go, and as they’re architecture students, we might even develop your system further. Many thanks and best regards, Quirin

Hoddy

Hello, Does anyone have any experience of developing large prints (100 x 150 cm using Fomaspeed from a roll) themselves? I used to have a plastic drum with a diameter of 50 cm, a circumference of 150 cm and a length of about 120 cm. I had curled the edge of the opening inwards by about 20° using a hot-air gun. The drum sat on a simple roller stand and was turned by hand. Only about 2 litres of chemical solution were needed, as the paper lies directly against the wall. The whole thing can still be lifted and emptied without any trouble, and refilled with the next batch of chemical solution through the large opening. Regards, Waldo

Quirin

Hi Waldo, Thank you very much – that sounds great. Does the paper stay stuck to the bin wall, or should it be secured in place as well? Best regards, Quirin

Hoddy

Hi Waldo, Thanks a lot – that sounds great too. Does the paper always stick to the side of the bin, or should you secure it in place as well? Best regards, Quirin

Hi Quirin, if the drum wall is smooth (i.e. not corrugated metal or anything like that), the paper stays firmly in place thanks to the adhesive forces of the liquid. To remove it, I always lifted a corner with a small plastic spatula. Regards, Waldo