10x8 Negs drying marks

dustym · Oct 6, 2007

Not new to photography but having a problem

I have just began 10x8 photography purely for contact printing.

Having trouble with drying marks on the neg.

I use adox wetting agent and hang corner down but still getting drying marks on negative.

I am using tap water for final wash in wetting agent, is this the problem.

I had no problem with 5x4 or 5x7 negatives

or do I need to squeegee of some sort.

philsweeney · Oct 6, 2007

Never use a squeegee! I use photo flo and tap water. If your tap water is subject use distilled water for final wash.

Alex Hawley · Oct 6, 2007

Hi Shawn,

What dilution are you using for the adox wetting agent? With Kodak photoflo, I use half the recommended dose, 1:400. With the standard 1:200, I always had streaks on the negatives. Don't use a squeegee! That will result in scratches.

Another thing that works is standard isopropyl rubbing alcohol. I put about 20 ml on 400 ml of water.

Alex

Ian Leake · Oct 6, 2007

I agree - never use a squeegee! My final wash is a slosh around in a tray of London tap water (albeit filtered) along with a dash of Ilfotol. I hang each sheet from it's corner and leave to dry over the bath (usually overnight). I've never seen any significant drying marks.

argus · Oct 6, 2007

I always use distilled water with washing agent for the last rinse. Never had drying marks since then.
I highly recommend this method.

Greetings,
G

RobertP · Oct 6, 2007

I have a large stainless film drying cabinet. I take my 8x10 and 8x20 negs right out of the wash and hang them in the film dryer. We have pretty good city water here and the only time I ever had a water spot is when I used a washing agent and a final rinse. I guess what ever works for you.

Justin Cormack · Oct 7, 2007

Ian I have had problems with London tap, even filtered. I use sone deionised water for final rinse and all is well now.

photobum · Oct 7, 2007

I have not had any problems since I started to use a spray bottle with distilled water. A couple of spritzs on each side. No wetting agent.

Ian Leake · Oct 7, 2007

Justin Cormack said:
Ian I have had problems with London tap, even filtered. I use sone deionised water for final rinse and all is well now.

Hmm. Maybe I have lower standards I'll take a closer look next time...

10x8 Negs drying marks

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