Brown/Yellow stains on some negatives

[SuzanneR]

I'm just trying to figure out what went wrong here.

I souped four rolls of 220 format film last week. At the time, I only had two 220 format reels, so I did two rolls at a time, but one right after the other. First, a pre-soak, then I used x-tol 1:2 for 23 minutes agitating every 5th minute on TXP. Then water with constant agitation for about 30/40 seconds, then sprint fix for seven minutes.

Wash for about 5 minutes, then Perma wash for 2 minutes, then final wash for about 15 minutes.

First batch came out great. Second batch has a brownish/yellow stain to them, not that slightly pink base color I am used to seeing with TXP. I reused the fix for both batches, but the developer was fresh for each.

Thought maybe they were underfixed, and have tried to refix them, and redo the wash/perma wash/wash cycle again, but the stain is still there.

Two questions... is something up with the x-tol? Can it cause this type of staining when it starts to go? And should I try farmer's reducer to clear them up? I'm not sure it will be impossible to print through them, but difficult.

Thanks!

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Do you wash / rinse the negs in the same tank as you develop and fix? If no, is there a possibility you could have gotten some fixer in the developer and contaminated the developer?

- Thom

 

[jovo]

Sounds like a stain from exhausted fixer. Did you use fresh fix when you re-fixed them? If not, try it with a fresh batch.

 

[SuzanneR]

Yes, I do wash in the same tank as I fix and develop, and I used the same tank and reels with the second two rolls. Maybe I didn't really rinse and clean between the two thoroughly enough.

Lesson learned!

Thanks, Thomas.

 

[SuzanneR]

Sounds like a stain from exhausted fixer. Did you use fresh fix when you re-fixed them? If not, try it with a fresh batch.

Yup.. very fresh!!

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Hi Suzanne,

I was more along the lines that if you do get fixer into the developer, it could cause harm. If you did use the same tank, and you rinsed the film in it, then I doubt it would be the cause.
But if you after fixing take the film out of the tank, rinse it in a roll film washer, and then go back to pour developer into the tank that had fixer in it without cleaning it, the remaining fixer could have an adverse effect.

It's just one possibility.

- Thom

Yes, I do wash in the same tank as I fix and develop, and I used the same tank and reels with the second two rolls. Maybe I didn't really rinse and clean between the two thoroughly enough.

Lesson learned!

Thanks, Thomas.