Dusty tri-x negs. What to do about it

[slitherjef]

I processed my 2nd roll of tri-x 400 35mm film early this morning (probably when I should of been sleeping) and as they dried I noticed dust and other junk on the roll. I suspect this is because while I was hanging the neg to dry on the back of my door the hanger slipped and down to the floor it went (D'OH!!!!) twice! AURGH. what flustration.

Is this a simple fix? Should I just put the roll back on the developer reel and soak it in photoflo again or just strait water or?

 

[dolande]

It happened to me too. I did just what you mentioned and that cured the problem.

Regards

Rafael

 

[pnance]

And it should be done immediately, as otherwise the dust will dry into the emulsion, probably never to leave again.

 

[Bruce Watson]

My experience has been that if the emulsion dries with dust on it, it's there for the life of the emulsion, never to be removed.

If you drop the film on the floor, put it back on the reel and give it another bath or two of distilled water to get the dirt off. Then repeat your wetting agent (not in the tank - it's nearly impossible to get wetting agents completely out of a tank once they are in the tank, and they can cause foaming which can hamper developer effectiveness and leave lots of air bells as reminders).

Better yet, get a film dryer.

 

[gnashings]

This is a highly un-scientific observatio, so please take for what its worth.
I have hadmore trouble with TriX for some reason than any ohter film, in terms of tings just wanting to stick to it - dust, mineral spots, msall dogs, you name it. I would be extra careful with TriX - definitely use photoflow, definitely use distilled water and definitely hang it at least in a shower with the curtain closed (seems to be the least dusty place short of a dedicated film dryer).
As to the ones you already have, unless they are totally ruined (in which case, what do you have to lose?) I would try re-wetting and washing... but I would not raise my hopes (as has already been stated). I was in a simular situation (with dust AND mineral spots) with this film, and after tearing up the internet for solutions, I found that any of my efforts damaged the film further than it was to begin with. If no-contact methods don't help, I would say you are more likely to make it worse than to improve it.

Peter.

 

[dancqu]

Should I just put the roll back on the developer reel
and soak it in photoflo again or just strait water or?

Suggestion: Soak in Photo Flo, hang, and with a well
soaked 1 inch 89 cent detail brush scrub the film. Apply
plenty of fluid, the Photo Flo, while at it.

I always use an eight blade Jobo type squeegee but
would not in your case because some grit may be
hanging on. Dan

 

[raucousimages]

If the dust is dried in, Soak, add more dust and print. "Damaged" negs can be cool.

 

[Donald Qualls]

In the future, if the negatives slip and fall on the floor, give them a quick see-saw through the Photo-Flo solution; most of the junk will just fall off into the bottom of the tank, and much of the rest will slide down to the bottom of the roll when you hang the negatives. The suggestion above about the "well soaked 1 inch 89 cent detail brush" is a good second step, using lots of PhotoFlo to keep things wet. Catch this while the film is still wet, rather than after the dust and junk dries onto the emulsion, and it's relatively easy to correct.

 

[slitherjef]

Thanks for the tips all

I have a feeling that the dust is now part of the emulsion since I did not deal with it while it was still wet. If the frames are messed up I guess that all good too, these are not real special, its realy the fact that I got out and actualy shot photos that means the most as I had been stuck in a photographic rut for some time