Timothy Gilbert of
Stearman Press has devised a simple and effective system for developing 4x5 large format sheets. If you have been looking at large format, there is certainly an abundance of 4x5 cameras and gear available at retail and auction alike. Their experiments using 3D printing has produced a model that is thought to work effectively with only 400ml of solution. The loading system is straightforward, just two film holders, similar to what is used to load the camera. From these prototypes, a
Kickstarter campaign to fund, develop and produce the tank is underway and now fully funded.
As with any Kickstarter campaign, there is risk that the project might fail. Reading through the proposal, it seems that the project has a grasp on what needs to be done, just not the details to make it a success yet. There are some tricky plastic moldings that have to be done to complete the tank. The initial price per tank is US$47, with an estimated US$90 per tank after the initial run.
