Dots in my highlights

Drew Wheeler · Dec 10, 2018

Hello guys,

Thanks in advance for your time.

I'm having a bit of trouble with my colour dark room at the moment, it's producing a lot of small dots in the highlights. They're on varied size and only seem to pop up on 50% of my negs. It's not a neg issue as I've had them scanned and looked very closely and it's definitely not coming from the neg. I'm using new Kodak Endura Gloss w/ Fresh Ektachrome chemicals. In a RCP20. It doesn't seem to be prevalent when I use Fuji stock. Unfortunately I much prefer to use the Kodak stock & seeing as I just invested into a new roll I'd like to stay on this for a while.

Has anyone seen this before, or recognises the issue?

Ref:

WilmarcoImaging · Dec 10, 2018

It looks similar to humidity or moisture effects on film. However you mention the negatives don't seem to have the defect. Can it be that moisture or humidity affected the paper?

Photo Engineer · Dec 10, 2018

Endura with Ektachrome chemistry???

Please clarify.

Thanks.

PE

Drew Wheeler · Dec 11, 2018

Photo Engineer said:
Endura with Ektachrome chemistry???

Please clarify.

Thanks.

PE

It's definitely not the negs, they've been scanned and have no signs of any of this dirt and it's definitely not the paper, bought new from B&H.

Clarifying that it's Endura paper with Ektacheome chemistry yes.

mard0 · Dec 11, 2018

Drew Wheeler said:
Clarifying that it's Endura paper with Ektacheome chemistry yes.

So you are cross-processing RA4 paper in E6 chemistry? Why would you want to do that?

halfaman · Dec 11, 2018

I suppose what you really mean is "Ektacolor". Ektachrome is another thing...

I see the spots also in other regions of the print, in the yellow t-shirt for example. How about dirty rolls in your RCP20?

Photo Engineer · Dec 11, 2018

Cross processed Endura paper does show mottling. It is an endemic problem with all reversal papers and depends on the coated chemistry and the process chemistry. RA4 is not intended for reversal processing and thus does not have the "fix" present that prevents this mottle. It comes and goes.

PE

Drew Wheeler · Dec 11, 2018

halfaman said:
I suppose what you really mean is "Ektacolor". Ektachrome is another thing...

I see the spots also in other regions of the print, in the yellow t-shirt for example. How about dirty rolls in your RCP20?

The rollers are super clean. This doesn't happen when I print on the Fuji stock, only the Endura?

Drew Wheeler · Dec 11, 2018

Photo Engineer said:
Cross processed Endura paper does show mottling. It is an endemic problem with all reversal papers and depends on the coated chemistry and the process chemistry. RA4 is not intended for reversal processing and thus does not have the "fix" present that prevents this mottle. It comes and goes.

PE

Do you have any suggestions for fixing this issue?

Can you elaborate on the "fix" element that is excluded in RA4 printing?
There has to be a way of fixing this issue as I've seen this process work before. It has to be something in the chemicals right?

Thanks.

Photo Engineer · Dec 11, 2018

The "FIX" is done in coating. I have done the best I can with reversal processed RA4 materials. To start with, I do not recommend using E6 chemistry as that is not intended for RA4 type emulsions. I suggest milder, paper type, developers such as Dektol and using the RA4 developer for the color part of the process. If you search, you will find that there is much posted on this type of process, here and on Photo Net.

PE

Drew Wheeler · Dec 12, 2018

Photo Engineer said:
The "FIX" is done in coating. I have done the best I can with reversal processed RA4 materials. To start with, I do not recommend using E6 chemistry as that is not intended for RA4 type emulsions. I suggest milder, paper type, developers such as Dektol and using the RA4 developer for the color part of the process. If you search, you will find that there is much posted on this type of process, here and on Photo Net.

PE

Hello PE,

I don't think I'm using E6 chemicals, It's c-41 paper chemicals, I may have typed Ektachrome when I meant Ektacolor.

Is there something that looks out of place in my recipe:
Dev Replenish:
2L water
125ml A
50ml B
125ml C
200ml water
To make 2.5L of Dev replenish

Dev:
1750ml of dev replenish
62.5ml starter
687.5ml water
to make 2.5L of DEV

Blix
1400ml water
500ml A
500ml B
100ml water
To make 2.5L BLIX

All water is between 21-35 degrees when mixing and I stir for 1.5 mins before adding each element.

halfaman · Dec 12, 2018

Normally working solutions are also replenishers in RA-4, so it seems strange to me that you dilute differently in the case of CD. What kind of Ekatcolor chemicals are you using?

Drew Wheeler said:
It's c-41 paper chemicals, I may have typed Ektachrome when I meant Ektacolor.

Ektacolor --> RA-4
Flexicolor --> C-41

Drew Wheeler · Dec 12, 2018

halfaman said:
Normally working solutions are also replenishers in RA-4, so it seems strange to me that you dilute differently in the case of CD. What kind of Ekatcolor chemicals are you using?

Ektacolor --> RA-4
Flexicolor --> C-41

ektacolor for ra4

halfaman · Dec 12, 2018

What kind of Ektacolor? The instructions I found differ a lot from you recipe

By the way are here (page 2)

http://imaging.kodakalaris.com/sites/uat/files/wysiwyg/retailers/chemistry/techpub/j39.pdf

Drew Wheeler · Dec 12, 2018

halfaman said:
What kind of Ektacolor? The instructions I found differ a lot from you recipe

By the way are here (page 2)

http://imaging.kodakalaris.com/sites/uat/files/wysiwyg/retailers/chemistry/techpub/j39.pdf

Thanks, the only difference is they say your don't need to use a starter, which I've been doing? This could cause the problem.

I'm also question weather I need to use the B&W stop bath solution in between the dev & blix? Would water suffice?

Thanks for this,
D

halfaman · Dec 12, 2018

Only the RT type needs starter, but there is also differences in the dilutions you are using.

For 2,5 liters of developer working solution you are using 87.5 ml A + 35 ml B + 87.5 ml B

According to Kodak instructions you should use 100 ml A + 44.5 B + 100 ml B. This same solutions is also replenisher.

There also divergences in the Blix (355 ml A + 500 ml B).

What instructions are you following?

Dots in my highlights

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