I've worked my way through Mark's workflows with my 2200 and 1280. While there does seem to be more mid tone separation compared to the other methods I've used (Burkholder & Schreiber) the downside is slightly more 'grain' with both printers. I'm printing pure palladium using a pot-ox mix of 2 drops sod-dichro per 200ml of room temp developer. I found the G255+R (or R255+G) channel works best for me with both the 2200 and the 1280. What I'm wondering is if my light source (super actinics) may be the cause for the accentuated grain? Are most of you using 'BL' tubes which I think 'peak' a little lower on the spectrum?

Rogein,
I don't think it has anything to do with your lightsource, but instead your ink choice. On the Epson C66, Canon S9000, and Epson 1280 any of the combinations which used red ink produced a grainy negative. This may just be a fluke for me, but this is what I discovered.

Jeremy, thanks for the headsup regarding the 'red' ink. My problem is I can't reach my standard printing time with the green/blue channels using my current light source. I'll try increasing the overall density using Sandy's suggestion in another previous post to see if I can reach my SPT.

Jeremy, thanks for the headsup regarding the 'red' ink. My problem is I can't reach my standard printing time with the green/blue channels using my current light source. I'll try increasing the overall density using Sandy's suggestion in another previous post to see if I can reach my SPT.
Rogein,

My experiences with red ink parallel Jeremy's. It is kind of interesting that the Super Actinic bulbs are lower in contrast than the BL bulbs. I would not have guessed that.

Don Bryant

Rogein,
Does the sodium dichromate have the same effect as potassium dichromate. I was having trouble getting a pure white also while printing for my min max black time, but a pinch of potassium dichromate fixed the problem.

Rogein,
Does the sodium dichromate have the same effect as potassium dichromate. I was having trouble getting a pure white also while printing for my min max black time, but a pinch of potassium dichromate fixed the problem.


All of the dichromates (ammonium, potassium and sodium) have about the same effect with the potassium oxalate developer, i.e. they increase contrast. But the effect is slightly different with each dichromate so you need to calibrate to your working conditions.

Sandy

All of the dichromates (ammonium, potassium and sodium) have about the same effect with the potassium oxalate developer, i.e. they increase contrast. But the effect is slightly different with each dichromate so you need to calibrate to your working conditions.

Sandy

In light of Sandy's post you might want to try upping the dichro or trying the added black density. As long as it's consistent it shouldn't matter which you do.