Film small spots and black points.

[naples59]

Hi, sorry for my little english... I'm italian
I have a problem that I do not succeed to resolve. On some films (the
greater part) I do not succeed to eliminate of the spots and most annoying
black points. I thought initially next to the powder... but for my method
standard I do not succeed myself to explain why of alternation of "perfect"
films and "disastrous" films... you could help me? They are of the small
spots and black points that I do not succeed to understand what are. I use
demineralized water for all the process of development... comprised the
washing. I use chemical new that I dilute only little before the
development... I dry the film in a closed closet... If someone has interest
I can send one small scansion of film. Thanks and bye.

 

[rogueish]

What brand of film are you using?
I know sometime ago Ilford had a batch of film that had specks in the emulsion.

 

[L Gebhardt]

The only time I have seen spots on 35mm film is when the stop bath was too strong and it lifted the emulsion off in small spots. These then print black. Try a water stop bath and see if that is the problem. Another problem could be air bells, or bubbles, that keep developer from the area of film. That is one reason for the vigorous agitation at the begining.

 

[naples59]

I do not believe that the problem is brand of film... I believe that problem is of chemical. I give used Microdol-X with Kodak Plus-X and Neofin Blue with TMax100... Kodak Stop Bath... Afga Agefix... Two washings with demineralized water... One washing with Hypo... 15' washing with demineralized water... 5' with 0,5 cc Ilfotol...

 

[naples59]

I use Kodak Stop bath
With the advised dilution for films... 1+17... if memory well...

 

[Nick Zentena]

Napoli are the spots on the negatives or on the prints? 5 minutes sounds like a long time for that last wash but I can't see that being a big issue. Are you making the Ilfotol fresh? You don't really need distilled water for everything. Odds are tap water will be okay until the Ilfotol.

 

[naples59]

The black spots are on the negative... they are white on the print. The solution with Ilfotol is new for every film (its cost is low)... The water of the tap has much limestone and after several experimentations the final bath with Ilfotol for 5' is ok... I does not believe that the problem is this.... Or not?

 

[abeku]

Hi Naples59,
Are you using an acidic stop bath? If not, that may explain the dark spots. When I developed Fomapan 100, I had severe problems with dark spots and streaks. Initially, I didn't use a stop bath - just water. Later, I found that the stop bath eliminated these spots (1% AcOH for 15 seconds, before adding the fix). I pressume, the spots may be the result of remaining salts that reacts with the fix, therefore they need to be washed away by a (low pH) stop bath.

 

[naples59]

I use Kodak Max Stop Bath... I do not know if it is an acidic stop bath...
Someone knows it?

 

[Jimi]

We had "spot problems" with Forte film at one workshop. It was 100ISO film developed in Rodinal. As stop bath we used plain water. Spot were white in negatives (printed black), and quite randomly placed, if I recall right. Teachers supposed that the film was defected.

 

[naples59]

I have black points on film ( white points on the print).
The problem is on several films... Plus-X, 100 T-MAx and also one Fuji Acros 100!!!

 

[abeku]

I have black points on film ( white points on the print).
The problem is on several films... Plus-X, 100 T-MAx and also one Fuji Acros 100!!!

Hmmm, can you submit a print or a negative scan of those spots to this thread?

 

[naples59]

Yes... but only tomorrow...
However the stop bath is: Kodak Max-Stop Bath with indicator acetic acid 21,8 % that I dilute (therefore indicated on the label) to 1+15.