Understand that RA-4 is the chromogenic color process used to print from color negatives onto light-sensitive paper, creating vivid, archival-quality prints in your own darkroom. Unlike black and white printing, RA-4 demands precise temperature control—chemicals must stay within 0.5°F of the target temperature, typically around 95-100°F, making a good thermometer and temperature stabilization system non-negotiable investments. Master your test strip technique by exposing a single strip of paper in incremental time intervals (usually 5-second steps) under your enlarger, which reveals the correct base exposure before you fine-tune color …
