Ilford fogging problem

Rlibersky · Aug 2, 2005

I was printing this weekend with Agfa Nuetol developer 1:3 ~70°F. Using Miltigrade IV I had considerable fogging on the paper. Wondering what was causing this I took a piece directly from the safe into the soup. The whole page was fogged remarkably quite evenly. The paper is in a safe
with 2 other papers. (3 paper safe) I used the other 2 papers in the developer and didn't have the fogging problem, these were Bergger and Agfa. This paper is not that old and I've used it recently in other developers without issue. I wasn't able to try the Ilford in a different
developer at that time. But I will be as soon as I can.

I have not used Nuetol before is it so active that the Ilford paper can't deal with it?
Is there something I'm missing?

Randy

jjstafford · Aug 2, 2005

Just to be certain, test the safelight. Remove the paper, cover part firmly right away (thumb will do), and put it in the soup keeping the thumb tight so it doesn't process. Stop and fix. Is the area below your thumb also fogged?

Rlibersky · Aug 2, 2005

I will give it a try. Is Ilford more sensitive then other papers? I have a sodiun vapor light. Do the filters fade enough to cause this kind of problem?

Les McLean · Aug 2, 2005

The problem could be the sadium vapor safelight. I used to have three Duka safelights in my darkroom and started to get paper fogging which I traced to the safelights. Apparently they take a certain time to warm up and until they do they are not "safe". I'd check this with regard to your safelight.

Paul Sorensen · Aug 2, 2005

We also had to get rid of our sodium vapor safelight. I would definitely check that it is not fogging in the developer. Another quick test would be to test one with the safelight off, in total darkness.

As for Ilford paper in particular, we haven't had huge problems there. Forte seems to fog the worst, although in my case not bad enough to fog in the developer.

Paul.

Bob F. · Aug 2, 2005

1+3 dilution is very strong. I use Neutol, both WA and NE as my main developers with no problems. My bottles of NE and WA have 1+7 as the minimum dilution (I use it at 1+11 in a dish (dump after the session) and 1+7 in my Nova) I have the Duka and it is safe with MGIV in my darkroom to 12 minutes plus (Kodak test method). As said, you do need to wait for it to warm up though - I switch it on as soon as I start a session so by the time I am ready for darkness, it has warmed up sufficiently. .

Good luck, Bob.

jjstafford · Aug 2, 2005

I use an old sodium vapor light, too and had to lower the doors to half open, and add a new layer of OC over them. I don't know if it is due to the age of the lamp or what.

Rlibersky · Aug 2, 2005

Bob F. said:
1+3 dilution is very strong. I use Neutol, both WA and NE as my main developers with no problems. My bottles of NE and WA have 1+7 as the minimum dilution (I use it at 1+11 in a dish (dump after the session) and 1+7 in my Nova) I have the Duka and it is safe with MGIV in my darkroom to 12 minutes plus (Kodak test method). As said, you do need to wait for it to warm up though - I switch it on as soon as I start a session so by the time I am ready for darkness, it has warmed up sufficiently. .

Good luck, Bob.

This could explain it. I think I read some other bottle and then mixed this. Should go under the DUH thread.

The safe light has been set to the same setting for 3 years and have not had this issue before. But it doesn't hurt to check.

Thanks

Ilford fogging problem

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