March2000•CIS-144
CURRENT INFORMATION SUMMARY
Supplementary Information on
KODAK EKTAMAX RA
Professional Paper
KODAK EKTAMAX RA Professional Paper uses colored
dyes to form black-and-white images in prints made from
color and black-and-white negatives. It is designed for
processing in KODAK EKTACOLOR RA Chemicals for
Process RA-4 along with color negative papers.
The information in this publication supplements the
information provided in the instruction sheet and in KODAK
Publication No. G-22, KODAK EKTAMAX RA Professional
Paper.
hue of EKTAMAX RA Paper, but it will cause a change in
contrast.
If you are printing black-and-white negatives onto
EKTAMAX RA Paper, two methods can provide suitable
results:
• Put a piece of processed D-min from KODAK
PROFESSIONAL PORTRA Film in the exposing beam
along with the filters you normally use to print color
negatives.
• To the filtration that you use to print color negatives,
add 35 units of magenta and 65 units of yellow filtration
to simulate a piece of film D-min.
CHARACTERISTICS AND APPLICATIONS
Suggested uses for EKTAMAX RA Professional Paper
include intermediate applications for graphics reproduction,
displays, real-estate brochures, publications, press releases,
and portrait proofs. The paper may also be acceptable for
other applications in which long-term display and keeping
are not required. In applications that require archival or
long-term keeping or complete image neutrality, a traditional
black-and-white paper is a better choice.
If you do not have any processed D-min from
PROFESSIONAL PORTRA Film or a starting filter pack, a
filter pack of 80M + 110Y is a reasonable starting point.
LATENT-IMAGE KEEPING
You should not notice shifts in the latent image with keeping
times from 1 minute to 24 hours. Therefore, you do not need
to change your printing procedures to compensate for
latent-image shifts under normal temperature and handling
conditions. (If shifts do occur, you can minimize their effect
by keeping the time between exposure and processing the
same for all paper.)
STORAGE AND HANDLING
Store unexposed paper at 13°C (55°F) or lower in the
original sealed package. High temperatures or high humidity
may produced undesirable photographic changes. Storage of
unexposed paper at room temperature will produce a hue
shift over time (see “Effects of Storage Conditions”).
Avoid moisture condensation by removing the package
from cold storage the day before printing.
Handle paper carefully by the edges. The paper is
packaged with the emulsion side of all sheets facing in the
same direction. For complete light and moisture protection,
use the inner bag and the two-part cardboard box to store the
paper.
IMAGE HUE
The term “hue” usually doesn’t apply to untoned
black-and-white papers. However, this paper can exhibit
slight variations in hue because it uses colored dyes to form
images. When we use the term “hue” in this publication, we
are referring to the image tone (or image-tone neutrality) of
prints. We will use hue interchangeably with image tone to
describe images that vary slightly from neutral.
Those who view prints on this paper expect them to appear
neutral. Therefore, viewers are more sensitive to hue
variations in prints on EKTAMAX RA Paper than they are
to hue variations in color prints.
The most likely contributor to hue variations is the color
quality of the viewing light. However, improper storage
conditions and some processing problems can also cause
variations in hue. (The references to hue in the following
sections are based on tests made in the school-finishing and
commercial markets.)
EXPOSURE RECOMMENDATIONS
The spectral sensitivity and printing speed of KODAK
EKTAMAX RA Professional Paper are designed to be the
same as those of KODAK PROFESSIONAL PORTRA,
SUPRA, and ULTRA Papers. Therefore, printing
EKTAMAX RA Paper should be very similar to printing
KODAK PROFESSIONAL Papers. If you are printing color
negatives and have a balance setup for those color papers,
you can use that setup for EKTAMAX RA Paper. An
adjustment of filtration from that balance will not change the
©Eastman Kodak Company, 2000
Excess developer in the bleach-fix/
high bleach-fix pH
Excessive amounts of developer in the bleach-fix may be
Procedure to Confirm Leuco Cyan Dye. If you suspect
that leuco cyan dye is the cause of a red image tone, you can
bleach a processed print in FLEXICOLOR Bleach III
Replenisher to confirm a leuco cyan dye condition. Follow
this procedure:
due to inefficient squeegees in the developer or low
bleach-fix replenishment. Any condition that allows the pH
of the bleach-fix to increase can produce a slightly pink
image tone.
These conditions are not generally reflected in the control
plots, but you can correct them by reducing the pH of the
bleach-fix. Add KODAK EKTACOLOR RA Bleach-Fix
and Replenisher NR, Part C, or glacial acetic acid (see the
following table).
1. Choose a print with a neutral density between 1.20 and
2.00 (1.60 to 1.80 is best). Take density readings of
specific areas on the print and mark the spots so that you
can take comparison readings after bleaching the print.
2. Immerse the print in FLEXICOLOR Bleach III
Replenisher solution at 21°C (70°F) for 2 minutes.
3. Rinse the print for 1 minute in running water at 21 to
43.3°C (70 to 110°F).
Caution
4. After rinsing the print, run it through the last wash and
the dryer of the same processor used to process the print
the first time. It is important to achieve the same surface
gloss, because the gloss will affect the density reading.
Before making changes to the bleach-fix, verify that the pink
hue is not caused by a developer activity problem. Check
your developer replenishment rate, processor utilization,
and control plots. Overuse of the following prescription will
cause leuco cyan dye problems. Be sure to very that the pink
hue is not developer-related before applying this
prescription.
After bleaching, washing, and drying, read the red and
green densities in the areas you marked. Subtract the original
red and green densities of the print from the red and green
density readings of the print after bleaching. Then subtract
the green density difference from the red density difference.
If the answer is greater than 0.10, leuco cyan dye is
confirmed.
Addition of KODAK EKTACOLOR RA Bleach-Fix and
Replenisher NR, Part C, or Glacial Acetic Acid
Add this amount of EKTACOLOR RA
If your processor
Bleach-Fix and Replenisher NR, Part C,
uses
or glacial acetic acid
Example:
EKTACOLOR RA
Red
Green
Bleach-Fix and
Replenisher
2.0 mL/L of tank volume
2.2 mL/L of tank volume
Density after
bleaching
1.90
1.84
EKTACOLOR RA
Bleach-Fix and
Replenisher NR
Original density
Difference
1.75
0.15
1.80
0.04
Add the appropriate amount of EKTACOLOR RA
Bleach-Fix and Replenisher NR, Part C, or glacial acetic
acid to the bleach-fix tank. Allow the solution to mix
thoroughly, and then process some test prints. If the pink
cast is reduced but not eliminated, repeat the prescription
once. If the pink cast does not change, do not repeat the
prescription. If a pink hue remains after you apply the
prescription a second time, it is likely that your process has
a developer problem or that your viewing conditions are
inadequate (recheck that you are using the appropriate light
source).
Because the red density difference minus the green
density difference is greater than 0.10 (0.15 – 0.04 = 0.11),
the test confirms that leuco cyan dye is the problem.
Correcting Process Problems
Follow the appropriate procedure below to correct the
process problem identified in the preceding section.
High developer activity
High activity may be due to a high replenishment rate, a high
temperature, or bleach-fix contamination of the developer.
When you have identified the cause of the condition, make
adjustments to correct it.
Low developer activity
Low activity may be due to low processor utilization, a low
replenishment rate, or high oxidation. You can notice this
condition in your control plots. In addition to having a
slightly pink hue, prints on EKTAMAX RA Paper will have
a “muddy” upper scale. When you have identified the cause
of the condition, make adjustments to correct it.
Supplementary Information on KODAK EKTAMAX RA Professional Paper • CIS-144
3
Supplementary Information on KODAK EKTAMAX RA Professional Paper
Leuco cyan dye/low bleach-fix pH
After you apply this prescription, allow the solution to
Leuco cyan dye is due to a low pH in the bleach-fix caused
circulate for 15 to 20 minutes, and then process some test
by a high replenishment rate or incorrect start-up (fresh tank)
mixing procedure. It results in a warm reddish image tone
due to some of the cyan dye being converted into an invisible
state. Leuco cyan dye conditions that cause problems with
prints. If the red hue is reduced but not eliminated, repeat the
prescription once. If the red hue does not change, do not
repeat the prescription. If the red hue remains after you
apply the prescription a second time, your process probably
color paper are also reflected in control plots (the black patch
has a developer problem or your viewing conditions are
tends to have a lower red density than green and blue).
inadequate (be sure that you are using the appropriate light
EKTAMAX RA Paper will generally alert you to this
source).
condition before you see it on color paper production or in
To prevent leuco cyan dye problems, follow the
recommended start-up procedure and replenish your
bleach-fix correctly to ensure that the pH of the bleach-fix
your control plots.
You can correct this problem by increasing the pH of the
bleach-fix. Add KODAK EKTACOLOR RA Developer
will remain in the recommended range.
Starter, CAT 102 6681, or KODAK EKTACOLOR RA
Note: If you use EKTACOLOR RA Bleach-Fix and
Replenisher NR to prepare a fresh tank solution, add only
one-half the normal amount of Part C to the mix. If you use
EKTACOLOR RA Bleach-Fix and Replenisher to prepare a
fresh tank solution, add 22 mL/L of tank volume of KODAK
Bleach-Fix Desilvering Concentrate, CAT 844 4572,
according to the following table.
Caution
Before making changes to the bleach-fix, verify that the hue
EKTACOLOR Developer Starter, CAT 102 6681, to the
is red (indicating low cyan dye) and not pink (indicating high
mix.
magenta dye). Overuse of this prescription will cause other
bleach-fix problems.
For the latest version of technical support publications for
Addition of KODAK EKTACOLOR RA Developer Starter
or KODAK EKTACOLOR RA Bleach-Fix
Desilvering Concentrate
KODAK PROFESSIONAL Products, visit Kodak on-line at:
Many technical support publications for
KODAK PROFESSIONAL Products can be sent to your
fax machine from the Kodak Information Center. Call:
U.S. 1-800-242-2424, Ext. 33 / Canada 1-800-295-5531
—Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—
Add this amount of EKTACOLOR RA
If your processor
Developer Starter or EKTACOLOR RA
uses
Bleach-Fix Desilvering Concentrate
EKTACOLOR RA
Bleach-Fix and
Replenisher
12.0 mL/L of tank volume
22.0 mL/L of tank volume
If you have questions about KODAK PROFESSIONAL
Products, call Kodak.
EKTACOLOR RA
Bleach-Fix and
Replenisher NR
In the U.S.A.:
1-800-242-2424, Ext. 19, Monday–Friday
9 a.m.–7 p.m. (Eastern time)
In Canada:
Note: When you add developer starter to the bleach-fix,
foaming will occur. Turn off the bleach-fix recirculation
system and add the starter very slowly. Wait several minutes
for any foaming to dissipate before turning the recirculation
pumps on. You may want to consider removing some
bleach-fix from your working tank and adding the starter to
that solution to avoid any chance of the bleach-fix foaming
over and contaminating your developer tank. Slowly stir the
starter into the bleach-fix solution, wait for any foaming to
dissipate, then slowly return the solution to your bleach-fix
tank.
1-800-465-6325, Monday–Friday
8 a.m.–5 p.m. (Eastern time)
Supplementary Information on
KODAK EKTAMAX RA Professional
Paper
Kodak, Kodak Professional, Ektacolor, Ektamax,
Flexicolor, Portra, Supra, and Ultra, are trademarks.
Minor Revision 3-00
Printed in U.S.A.
KODAK Publication No. CIS-144
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