However a recent area newsletter from Eric contained a long and detailed
article by Mr. C. H. Cowling. This described his method of processing in a
most economical way. Using minimum of.75 mil of processing solution. I
believe he uses a rotary method in order to achieve this. The usual way of
course, of developing colour prints. I have little doubt that this is very
efficient arid certainly Mr. Cowling’s article goes into the system he
uses in great detail. However I have little doubt that anyone who
contemplates following Mr. Cowling‘s methods would find the mixing and
dilutions that he describes, much more easy to do in practice than it is
to read about from his descriptions. ‘It always is easier’ when you
come do to doing things rather than to read how to do it.
Using this
method he reckons to process a 20exp film for 56p. However reading through
this article it strikes me there are a couple of things, which puzzle me,
at least, and may well puzzle other people. First, of all Mr. Cowling
doesn’t use Citrizinic acid in the colour developer. Now I find this
odd! I’m no chemist, but every formula I have seen advocates Citrizinic
acid. So what is this chemical? I ask. So I turned to my trusty companion,
the B. J. Annual, and I find this quoted for Citrizinic acid. ‘Quote’
“Acts as a specialised restraining agent, and serves to prevent what
would otherwise be an excessively dens and contrasty dye agent. A
deficiency produces a thin yellowish image. Whereas an excess produces a
heavy bluish image. A 10% variation will be quite noticeable.
To my
unscientific mind, I ask myself. What then is there in this formula to
compensate for the lack of Citrizinic acid? My only answer from Mr.
Cowling’s formula is an excess of Potassium Bromide. Whether this is.
sufficient and will have the same effect, I know not. Which takes me to my
second point. That of pH value. As readers of this column will know. I
have always placed great store on correct pH values for the two developing
solutions, and there is no indications from Mr. Cowling of any pH value in
this. But from glancing down the formula I would hazard a guess that the
Colour developer would be excessively beyond the 11.25’sh figure, which
is fairly normal for this solution. Of course, this is only a guess. I may
be hopelessly out and maybe it is correct. Perhaps Mr. Cowling could give
us some indication of the pH value that he would place on his solutions.
Particularly the developers. This would be most useful and interesting.
And so we
leave Lincoln. We journey south to London, and to Oliver Barron’s Area
20. His recent area news has a very comprehensive article, once again.
This time by Ron Croad, in which. he describes his very meticulous and
careful methods of processing Barfen CRX100. And this strangely follows my
own ideas of developing any colour film. I think the care and attention to
detail when processing any colour film is absolutely vital, and perhaps
this is some aspect of processing which most of us might well look into
with more seeing eyes.
To keep the developers constant, in particularly with the developing
solutions, Ron uses a polystyrene sleeve, held in place around his tank,
with rubber bands. Now this is something I have never tried. But I can see
that,, it could be a good idea. But it strikes me as being something that
could be improved upon by constructing, perhaps with a plywood box, lining
that with polystyrene. The bottom as ‘well, leaving a circular aperture
in the middle which would provide a snug fit for your particular tank.
Line the lid as well. So that this then would provide adequate
protection’ for the tank and it’s contents from the Vagaries of the
temperatures from the outside world.
The ‘only other observation I. would make, again, about Ron’s
methods in his formulae, brings me back to. my pH value. Ron doesn’t
give a pH value for either of his developers, and I think this is most
important. And I’m sure many members, including myself, would be most
grateful and happy if Ron could give us an indication of the pH value he
uses for each of the developers.