I worked with lithographic line film in sizes up to 1.60 x 3.00 m. My
experience is that paper developers give very grainy results and poor edge
sharpness. I usually use hard film developers, like Kodak D-11 or RA-661
from Konica and delute them in accordance with desirable result, contrast,
tone scale and original negative quality. I processed the biggest negatives
in the reprographic paper developing processor, changing the developer (it
has to be changed anyway by the end of a commercial working day at the
graphic firm, where I rented myself inn at nights). Smaller sizes are
simple to handle in vertical trays one can easily glue from plexiglass. If
you make a hole with a tube at the bottom, it is easier to wash them. I
have 4 trays like that on the wall above the wet bench. It is good to have
them transparent, so that you can see the film during the processing. The
forth bath is used for washing and helps a lot against smaller pieces
hitting bigger ones and making scratches, as it often happens in a
horisontal tray. I hope this information was worth to share.
Galina.(galina@telepost.no)