Fomapan 100 4x5 sheet black/magenta spots on the negative

RLeal · May 29, 2021

Hello,

Last week I took my first 4x5 pictures, 4 to be more exact.
I've started with Fomapan 100.

After developing, I looked at the negatives on my light table and found that all 4 negatives are full of dark spots.
I've attached some photos, taken with my cell phone through my loupe (sorry for that but i don't have my scanner with me). In the film borders/lighter parts, the spots seem to be more magenta than black.

I've developed the sheets with
Ilford DDX 1:4 dilution for 8min
Ilford stopbath 1min
Ilford rapidfixer 5min
Distilled water.

Does anyone know what went wrong with these negatives?
It was my first time, load the film, make the exposure and develop 4x5 sheets.

Thank you.

MatthewDunn · May 29, 2021

RLeal said:
Ilford DDX 1:4 dilution for 8min
Ilford stopbath 1min
Ilford rapidfixer 5min
Distilled water.

Does anyone know what went wrong with these negatives?
It was my first time, load the film, make the exposure and develop 4x5 sheets.

Thank you.

How old is the chemistry? Not an hour ago I developed some 4x5 using old-ish DDX and upon opening the bottle it was super crystallized. I had to vigorously shake the bottle for a bit to get everything back into solution. I don't know whether that has anything to do with anything, but just wondering if small "clumps" of developer somehow stuck to the film? Sorry if this is not at all helpful.

cmacd123 · May 29, 2021

it is not anti-halo dye on the back by any chance?

MatthewDunn · May 29, 2021

And I'm not sure whether we should interpret spots on the rebate as more or less likely to indicate a problem with the underlying film base.

RLeal · May 29, 2021

cmacd123 said:
it is not anti-halo dye on the back by any chance?

I don't know

@MatthewDunn
The developer is more than a year old.
I've mentioned the film borders only because it seems to me that the spots on the borders have a different color.

MatthewDunn · May 29, 2021

I would try summoning elders such as @Bill Burk or @MattKing and see if they have a thought or two. I'm sure others can/will mention additional helpful names.

grat · May 29, 2021

Foma 400 (known to me as Arista EDU 400) has a strong green ant-halation dye. At least one other user had problems getting the anti-halation layer off (resulting in lots of little black spots), and was advised by Foma to pre-soak it before development-- something I usually do anyway to get that shocking green dye off.

RLeal · May 29, 2021

grat said:
Foma 400 (known to me as Arista EDU 400) has a strong green ant-halation dye. At least one other user had problems getting the anti-halation layer off (resulting in lots of little black spots), and was advised by Foma to pre-soak it before development-- something I usually do anyway to get that shocking green dye off.

I've pre-soak it with distilled water for 1 minute with a few agitations.

RalphLambrecht · May 29, 2021

RLeal said:
I don't know

@MatthewDunn
The developer is more than a year old.
I've mentioned the film borders only because it seems to me that the spots on the borders have a different color.

Possibly, but, I suggest it has to do with incomplete fixing. Please refix and wash and see if that helps otherwise ,these areas will turn sepia brown.

MattKing · May 29, 2021

Who are you calling an Elder?
Now RalphLambrecht, he is definitely an Elder, and his suggestion is a really good one.

MatthewDunn · May 29, 2021

MattKing said:
Who are you calling an Elder?

You are my spirit animal...

Stanislav Boščík · May 30, 2021

Known issue with some batches of Foma films. Anti-halation layer spots remains. Foma recommends to wash it in ethanol.

RLeal · May 30, 2021

RalphLambrecht said:
Possibly, but, I suggest it has to do with incomplete fixing. Please refix and wash and see if that helps otherwise ,these areas will turn sepia brown.

I've refix the negatives, the dots are still there but they turned purple (it's clearly visible).

Stanislav Boščík said:
Known issue with some batches of Foma films. Anti-halation layer spots remains. Foma recommends to wash it in ethanol.

I have ethabol, i will try that.

---
I will also test processing another sheet.

RLeal · Jun 29, 2021

Hello again,

I contacted Foma about this issue and they reply with the following,

"(...)our Quality dept. has found out that the described magenta spots are residues of not decolorized anti-halo layer used by our sheet film FOMAPAN 100. Considering your mentioned LOT/emulsion number (021754-02) we have to admit that in this formula we used more hardened anti-halo layer and that´s why decolorizing is not so easy."

Foma will replace my 4x5 negatives box.

They also described a way to try clean the negatives,

In case of your already exposed & processed negatives we recommend to you the following procedure to remove the residues of remaining anti-halo layer:

Prepare a working solution with at least 40% ethanol (optimally 70%).
Carefully insert the sheet film foils into a tray or cylinder container with a sufficient amount of ethanol solution using the anti-halogen layer up (emulsion side down) into the tray or into the cylinder.
Keep the negatives in this solution for about 45 minutes and make a slight movement every 4-5 minutes.
Wash the negative sheets under running tap water for 2-3 minutes.
Perform standard drying, including previous application of wetting agent solution (FOTONAL).

I hope this can help someone with the same problem.

Cheers.
Ricardo

Fomapan 100 4x5 sheet black/magenta spots on the negative

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