Dick,
I have been doing some preliminary testing on some Fuji Graphic Arts Film
in just the way you are intending. I don't know the exact product number
but it is ortho-lith with a very thin base. I will post the product number
if I can get it.
I enlarged a 5 X 7 inch negative (that prints fine on grade 2 gelatin
paper) onto a piece of this film cut to 11 x 14. Exposure was f22 for 5
seconds. (Aristo 1212 cold lite). I can't seem to find my stepwedge!
When this film is developed in Rodinol 1:25 for 5 minutes it yeilds a
remarkably fine continuous tone positive, very brilliant with full detail.
I was a bit surprised that a lith film could perform this well. Better
than N31P positives!
Well, a good chrome has just about the right density range for albumen and
platinum only backwards, so, I reversal processed a second piece of film
exposed and developed as the first and it looks *really good*. I haven't
made a print yet but it should be fine. (Density range 2.20 approx. as
measured with a densitometer)
Proceedure (Tray Processing, red safelight)
First developer: Rodinol 1:25 for 5 minutes, or whatever you need.
Rinse: running water
Bleach: 10g Potassium Dichromate, 12 mL Sulfuric Acid per liter of water
Five minutes
Use fresh bleach for every couple of negs as silver builds up and
bath loses strength.
Rinse: Running water
Clearing Bath: 90g Sodium Sulfite annhydrous per litre
Three minutes.
Rinse: Running water
Redeveloper: Ilford MG paper developer 1:3. Place film into developer,
turn on room lights and develop until its done. If the first exposure and
development is right then the redeveloper step works without requiring an
exact fogging exposure or development time.
Rinse: Running Water
Fix: not really necessary but 2 minutes just in case.
Wash: whatever
Like I said, these are just some preliminary tests, but they look very
promising.
Mike Robinson
Toronto, Canada