Problems with darkroom prints

[Skydog]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

On some of my prints I noticed white spots.... but it's not the typical dust spots. These white patches only develop over some time.... so I guess it is some chemical related issue? I have the suspicion that it might be an old stop bath.... I know I was pushing it but since the spots only developed after weeks I'm not entirely sure whether it was before or after changing the stop bath. Or are these fixer stains? Any ideas?  

I use   Adox MCC developer

           Ilford Ilfostop

           Ilford Rapid Fixer

           Ilford RC paper

I wash the prints in a tray.... 

 

Thanks for your input!

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited April 20, 2024 by Skydog

[Pyrogallol]

If they are not visible on the negatives then it is something to do with the printing. Old paper? But I have not seen anything like it on my resin coated paper. Fixer contamination on the paper, maybe fixer dust in the air that got on the paper before it went under the enlarger? Try a different box of paper, if it appears on paper from two different boxes then it was somewhere else. Was it on more than one sheet from that box or that batch of printing/developing? But if the spots only appear after some time I can’t think of what might cause it. Dust on the paper while it was under the enlarger would show up straight away as would fixer contamination. I can’t think of how the stop bath would cause it. Even if it had developer or fixer or chemical grit in it that should not stop the effect of the stop bath or fixer. How have the prints been stored? How long has it taken for the spots to appear? Have they been stored in contact with anything that might bleach out the spots, like potassium ferricyanide ?

Edited April 20, 2024 by Pyrogallol

[Skydog]

Thanks for the input...  it is definitely a problem with the chemistry because it appeared on different prints from different boxes.

I tried to reconstruct my printing sessions and I'm not quite sure.... but I might have used Adostab/Sistan as the final bath. And I think I remember that this can bleach a print? So maybe there was still too much of it left on the print when drying or maybe dust settled on the final print and accumulated too much chemistry in one place which caused the bleaching. Has anyone experienced Adostab related bleaching?

[Bikie John]

I make no claims to be an expert! But from reading your description it sounds as though the final wash is not as thorough as it should be. If there are chemicals left in the print they could continue to work slowly and produce all sorts of unwanted effects over time.

I damaged some old B&W film negatives because I hadn't washed the fixer out properly (in 1978). When I came to scan them a mere 40 or so years later there were some odd marks which I think were from residual fixer. The first think I did was wash the film again. It seemed that the fixer had crystallised and lifted the emulsion off the backing in a few places. As a result they now need VERY careful handling.

John

[Skydog]

I've thought considered fixer stains as well... but shouldn't fixer contamination on the final print leave brown spots?

[M.Hilo]

Adostab/Sistan:

Only use Adostab directly as the final bath of the developing process on well fixed and washed prints. Adostab II does not function as a washaid for fiber-based prints. Just like a selenium toner it will create marks and spots on prints which are insufficiently fixed or washed.

Edited April 21, 2024 by M.Hilo

[PCPix]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Fixer accidentally splashed on the paper before processing will render as white spots. Any chance you flicked wet/contaminated hands/tongs anywhere near the open paper?

[Skydog]

Am 22.4.2024 um 19:19 schrieb PCPix:

Fixer accidentally splashed on the paper before processing will render as white spots. Any chance you flicked wet/contaminated hands/tongs anywhere near the open paper?

No... and the spots weren't there right away... they appeared over the course of weeks. But thanks for the input.

In the meantime I've found somebody who had the same problem and by now I'm pretty sure that the Adostab/Sistan is to blame... no... I'm to blame for not using Adostab correctly!