Color of Black and White film?

[ToddB]

Hey guys,

Whats color should B&W film be when developed? Should there be a little bluish hue to it. I know if has a pink or megenta, that means the fixer is weak or not fixed long enough. Whats ideal?

Todd

 

[Photo Engineer]

Kodak B&W films support is light blue (grey) due to an antistatic and anti-light piping material in the support itself. A pink color indicates a lack of fix and wash. Dye is retained.

PE

 

[Regular Rod]

It depends sometimes on the developer. Pyro and Catechol developers stain films. What developer are you using?

RR

 

[polyglot]

Dead Link Removed from the FAQ.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

There are different film bases colors depending on the brand and type of film. Foma films (and its rebranded arista edu) have a blue base. The purplish magneta dye is really common on kodak films such as tmax.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Foma films (and its rebranded arista edu) have a blue base.

Foma changed the base to a clear one last year.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

Ah thats good to know, im not a fan of foma so i dont shoot it. I do like clear bases as enlarging times are shorter. Maybe ill try foma again.

 

[ww12345]

Does that color ever wash out with more fix or is that base color OK?

 

[jp498]

Pink washes out (and it should) if it's Kodak.

 

[ToddB]

Using D-76. Last roll had blueish purple color to it. Ilford Delta 100, 400. Just making sure that it's not getting stale for what I left with this batch.

Todd

 

[nworth]

It varies with both the film and the developer. Generally, the silver image will be pure black or brownish black, but many developers (including pyro, catechol and even hydorquinone without high sulfite content) produce a brown stain. As noted above, the base and antihalation coatings can give a color cast. Such casts seem to vary with the manufacturer.