RA-4 paper in B&W chemistry - how to improve contrast?

[Mkillmer]

I'm trying out paper negatives using ra-4 paper processed in B&W chemistry.
I've tried:
Rodinal 1+50 - Low contrast negative
Xtol 1+1 + Rodinal 1+50 - low contrast negative
Rodinal 1+12.5 - Low contrast negative - ugly yellow/orange "rash" on the paper

Here is an example of Rodinal+Xtol:


Any suggestions on a developer/technique for improving contrast?
I use a Jobo rotary processor, speed does not seem to affect this.

[ndg]

I'm trying out paper negatives using ra-4 paper processed in B&W chemistry.
I've tried:
Rodinal 1+50 - Low contrast negative
Xtol 1+1 + Rodinal 1+50 - low contrast negative
Rodinal 1+12.5 - Low contrast negative - ugly yellow/orange "rash" on the paper

Here is an example of Rodinal+Xtol:


Any suggestions on a developer/technique for improving contrast?
I use a Jobo rotary processor, speed does not seem to affect this.

I haven't tried RA-4 paper but used just B&W paper with decent results. Do you have to use RA-4 paper?

[Mkillmer]

I'm trying to take advantage of the high ISO of ra4 paper.

[dsphotog]

The RA-4 process includes a bleach step needed to remove undeveloped silver & dyes, that's the unwanted overall print density, especially visible in the highlights.
Best solution (pun intended) would be to process your RA-4 paper as color.
...Or you might try using RA-4 blix instead of B&W fixer.
Oh, and be sure to handle and process the color paper under the proper safelight conditions.

[Bruce Barlow]

It looks about 4 stops underexposed, rather than underdeveloped...

[Michael E]

Have you tried paper developer? It works a lot harder than film developer.

[Mkillmer]

Have you tried paper developer? It works a lot harder than film developer.

Is there a high contrast paper developer?

[EdSawyer]

Dektol seems pretty high contrast...

[Dave Grenet]

Any paper developer should give higher contrast than a film developer. One problem is that RA4 paper isn't designed to retain the silver image, so you won't be able to get a Dmax anywhere near what you can get with B&W paper...