Re: Jobo's and Slot Processors for Platinum

William Laven (wmlaven@platinotype.com)
Sat, 21 Feb 1998 12:50:28 -0800 (PST)

>Hi all-
>
>Awhile ago I made a couple of platinum prints using a Jobo rotary
>processor - a CPE-2 to be exact. I could keep the developer heated up,
>used the lift to easily put the fluids back into the bottle, etc. The
>only thing I worried about would be that the agitation would imbed iron
>or other unpleasant chemicals into the paper which I couldn't wash out.
>However, upon washing I never saw a trace of discoloration anywhere.
>The prints turned out very nice as well. So.. naturally, I wonder if
>anyone out there has any comments on this.
>
>Another item I've been thinking about are Slot Processors. This seems
>like a nice balance between trays and the Jobo. For the non-gear-heads
>amongst us, these are boxes which contain three or four slots in them.
>Each slot holds chemistry, and is heated. You simply attach a clip to a
>print and drop it into the slot. What I like about these units is the
>fact that they are tempered, and that they take up so little space.
>What I am concerned about though is the ease of use in draining
>chemistry out of them. Since I use contrast control in the developer,
>I'll need to be changing it often... Comments?
>
>Take care,
>Adam

Adam,

I've been using a Jobo with contrast controls in the developer for years
and swear by it. I've never had a problem like the one you've described,
nor any other really. I think the rotary technique would be superior to the
dip and dunk of the slot processor. Draining the developer between prints
in the slot processor would be a pain for example. I have 12 1-liter
bottles of developer (in half grade steps) in a tempered bath (a deep kitty
litter box and a good aquarium heater works fine) so they're ready and on
hand; with the rotary processor I can make a print in one developer and if
its too soft immediately change to a harder developer in no time at all.
Its so damned simple and compact I'll never use trays again. I've got a
Jobo CPP-2 and also a couple of Beselar reversing agitator so I can have a
few prints processing at once. If you do a warm water rinse between the
developer and first clearing bath it helps the clearing and makes your
clearing baths last longer, too (this is good practice whether in drums or
trays).

Good luck,
Bill

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WILLIAM LAVEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Offering Platinum/Palladium printing services and workshops and tutorials
in Pt/Pd printing and other areas of photography (Zone System, etc.)

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415-647-9432 (voice) 415-647-9438 (fax)
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