Ilford fibre contamination

Chrishuddersfield · Apr 13, 2022

Sorry for the delay, I’ve been away. Thanks for all the feedback and info everyone. Really appreciated. I’ve cleaned all the trays and I’ve warned the others at college about cross contamination with the tongs etc. I also try and go in the darkroom on days when less folk are in. This seems to help. Eventually when I get some money I want to start printing fibre at home, it’s just the water archive machines seem to cost a lot of money. Thanks

NB23 · Apr 13, 2022

Again, as I must stress out the fact that a drying screen made of metallic mesh will cause little, tiny dots of rust. Those dots go across the paper and appear on the other side. They are impossible to erase. Rust/orange color.

When I used to print in a community darkroom, I used to pile my washed finer prints (around 20 per session) on top of my Ilford Paper Box and I I dryed the prints at home: on the bed, the couch, any clean surface. I was basically avoiding using their screens, which were probably super contaminated, at ALL cost. I consider this my best move by far.

You can also cover the wet prints on top of the box with a clear plastic wrap to protect them until you get home. Carry it like a Pizza.

Best tip I can give you by far.

Renato Tonelli · Apr 13, 2022

NB23 said:
Again, as I must stress out the fact that a drying screen made of metallic mesh will cause little, tiny dots of rust. Those dots go across the paper and appear on the other side. They are impossible to erase. Rust/orange color.

When I used to print in a community darkroom, I used to pile my washed finer prints (around 20 per session) on top of my Ilford Paper Box and I I dryed the prints at home: on the bed, the couch, any clean surface. I was basically avoiding using their screens, which were probably super contaminated, at ALL cost. I consider this my best move by far.

You can also cover the wet prints on top of the box with a clear plastic wrap to protect them until you get home. Carry it like a Pizza.

Best tip I can give you by far.

This is always a problem in a community-type darkroom. The only ge-around is to clean, with a sponge, both sides of each screen with a super-diluted laundry bleach solution (super diluted!) and then rinse thoroughly.

However, this is not the OP's problem; the dots are appearing before the dry stage. This would point to either cross-contamination, a problem with the water or a paper defect.

Ilford fibre contamination

Chrishuddersfield

NB23

Renato Tonelli

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency