Black specs on film water marks?

I've been using xtol to devleop my film for the past few month's, with my latest batch being mixed uo beggning of March storred in concertina bottles to keep the air out. On my latest roll of film I noticed what I assume to be watermarks on a roll of 135 Hp5+ but when I took my film out of the drier once it was dry, on the non-emulsion side I rubbed my finger over the leader where there was some of these marks and they smugged, would water marks have these characteristics. The method I use for developing is;
No pre wash Xtol 1+1 mixed with distilled water.
Stop Bath mixed with filtered tap water.
Fixer mixed with filtered tap water Wash with tap water continually running for 15mins.
Final wash Kodak photo flo 1:200 with distilled water for 30 seconds then figer squeegee once and hang in film drying cabinet.

I was able to clean the marks off with some Tetenal Graphics Art Cleaner I had laying around and proceeded to scan the roll, looking at the scans I had white specs on all of the images, could this have been to do with the water marks or are these another issue entirely, i.e dust. When looking at the film in bright light I cannot see any specs in the areas that are showing on the film. I may use some different distilled water next time. But if this isnt the issue and i just have some bad dust on the film whats the best way to clean this off.

Attached are some scans to show off the marks on the film.

Thanks,
Jacob.

"I was able to clean the marks off with some Tetenal Graphics Art Cleaner I had laying around
and proceeded to scan the roll, looking at the scans I had white specs on all of the images
When looking at the film in bright light I cannot see any specs in the areas that are showing on the film."

At first thought that indicates that there was nothing left on the film, but keep in mind the particles must be very small, so check the film with a strong loupe in reflecting lighting.

Check your drier. Does it have a fan or filter? It might be old dust in the drier or particles from a filter. Something on your fingers? I use just a few drops of PhotoFlo/20 oz of distilled water and use it only one session.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

AgX said:

At first thought that indicates that there was nothing left on the film, but keep in mind the particles must be very small, so check the film with a strong loupe in reflecting lighting.

Click to expand...

Will do when I am next in the darkroom, I have noticed that the marks so move around when I wipe the film with a microfiber cloth and is hit or miss as to whether they're mostly gone or there is more. Do you have any suggestions on cleaning dust from film as my rocket blower clearly isn't strong enough for this.

jeffreyg said:

Check your drier. Does it have a fan or filter? It might be old dust in the drier or particles from a filter. Something on your fingers? I use just a few drops of PhotoFlo/20 oz of distilled water and use it only one session.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

Click to expand...

That's a good idea I hadn't actually thought of that, I may also put the heat lower on it next time as that will allow more time for the water to drain off my film, potentially leaving less water marks. If I can't find a filter in it I give it a dust and maybe spray some water in it lightly to bring down any dust floating around in it.

You don't appear to have said what kind or make your drier is. I have a UT100 which does have sponge filters in the top to stop the fan drawing in dust and such filters can over a matter or years deteriorate and crumble into a form of dust which the fan can blow around the film as it dangles in the protective "tube" that prevents floating room dust from adhering.

The heat setting may have contributed to the ageing effect on the sponges. For what it is worth for the future, I find that there is no need for the heat setting to be used. The fan alone will completely dry the film in about 20 mins and is cheaper. I cannot say that not using the heater element has lengthened the life of the sponges but I changed my sponges in 2004 and they seem as good now as then.

pentaxuser

pentaxuser said:

You don't appear to have said what kind or make your drier is.

Click to expand...

As the darkroom I use is my local community darkroom, I would assume that the drier has been really well used so I shall check it all out next time I'm there. But this could be the source of my issue.

It does look like dust which is a problem when wet printing as well as scanning. Try blowing off the dust with canned air (you can get this at Costco quite cheaply) or a blower brush (a brush with a rubber bulb on it). Sometimes the dust just jumps back on due to static electricity. An anti-static brush can help. If the film gets dust on it whilst it is still wet then it is stuck there for good.