Fogging with the Smith Amidol formula on enlarging paper

[Donald Miller]

I have recently printed some Nuance (Adox) graded paper using the Smith Amidol formula for enlarging paper. I noticed very pronounced fogging of the paper. As a comparison, I have previously printed on this same paper with D72 with no fog problems. The safelite is the same. The emulsion of the paper is the same.

Developer: Amidol for use with Enlarging Paper. Mix at room temperature just before use.

One liter
Water 900 cc
Sodium Sulfite 30 g
Citric Acid 3 g
KBr (10% solution) 6 cc
BB Compond 1% solution (or Benzotriazole 1% solution) 60 cc
Amidol 8 g
Water to make 1000 cc
Develop as long as needed (generally 2-3 minutes)

What in a developer formulation has the potential to cause fog? What would I be advised to adjust in an effort to eliminate the problem?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I use that paper and developer combination and haven't had a fog problem, but amidol is very energetic and may itself cause fogging, so maybe your amidol or your batch of paper is different from mine (and I'd bet your room temperature is different from mine), or maybe it's a water issue. Try increasing the benzotriazole and/or KBr. You may also need to use a shorter development time, though I've generally been okay with 2-3 minutes.

 

[p krentz]

You might try Peckhams amidol. Pat