I'd like to set up a darkroom in my home. Counter space is severely limited in any of the rooms that might serve. JOBO has these clever looking vertical slot processors that appear to solve my problem neatly, 'though at a price. Has anyone out there used one? What do you think? Any problems?

-- Don Karon (kc6d@arrl.net), September 16, 2001

Answers

I've used the JOBO NOVA slot processor for both B/W and color printing and love it. Temperature control is excellent for color. Chemicals have long "tank" life. Saves lots of space. No problems whatsoever.

-- Arnie Milowsky (arniemly@earthlink.net), September 16, 2001.

Can I just clarify that Jobo are only the distributers for Nova darkroom products in some countries. The Nova slot processor is a British product that's available direct from Nova in the UK.
I have nothing to do with the company, but I think this innovative system deserves to be recognised in its own right.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), September 17, 2001.

The only (if you can really say it is a downfall) downfall is that you have to do your color printing in the dark... Not bad for the advantages that you get!!!

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), September 19, 2001.

Scott: Have you ever tried JOBO's Maxilux safelight? I print color, with the safelight on (about 4 ft away)with no fogging at all. The safelight has three "settings" that emit light at particular wavelengths for printing 1) B/W, 2) color, and 3) CIBAs.

-- Arnie Milowsky (arniemly@earthlink.net), September 21, 2001.

You don't specify if you want colour or B&W. If you just plan to do B&W, Nova has a "Monochrome" processor that is basically the same as their colour processors, except (a) no temperature control and (b) it's a lot cheaper.

I've had one for about a year and it's become one of those "How did I live without it" devices. Takes almost no room at all and anytime you want to just rip off one print, you just uncover it and go... No mixing, it's right there waiting for you.

-- Darren Holloway (darren@mambo.net), October 29, 2001.

I've been using the NOVA Monochrome for a few weeks now and think it's great to use when you don't have the space to build a permanent darkroom. I use the toilet (we have another one upstairs) for printing on a Durst M700 enlarger standing next to the NOVA. Watch out for drops of chemicals!

-- Johan van 't Leven (awinkel01@freeler.nl), March 05, 2002.

I was reading this post regarding this processor and was wondering about its use for fiber paper. Obviously, this process would work great for RC paper but it appears that the characteristics of fiber paper would make this arkward and possibly damaging to the paper. Any thoughts you could provide would really be appreciated.

-- Mervin D. Turner (mervin.turner@hhs.gov), May 15, 2002.