Ilford XP2

[John Lew]

XP2 is a c41 process black and white film. I have used this film off and on during the past 2 years with satisfactory results (based on easy processing at my local lab when i don't have the time to process my own). However, the last few times I have used it, the prints have a random splatterin of black spots, ranging in size from barely noticeable on up. I talked with my lab, ad they told me I am the only one bringing them this film, so they don't really have an answer. does anyone have any ideas on what would case this to happen? I could post an example if it would help.

 

[bmac]

please post an example. It soulnds like sloppy labwork to me.

 

[John Lew]

the first is a full scan of an example. I have boxed the area of concern. The second example is an enlarged area of the box. This only happens with XP2 film, not my color film, or other C41 process BW films.

Any help on what is causing this would be appreciated

 

[Cheryl Jacobs]

It's the lab.

 

[John Lew]

Ok, so it's the lab. I looked at the negs, and the spots are there, so it must be something during processing. Any ideas as to why they are appearing? What would the cause be?

 

[bmac]

could be chemical splashes, dust, bad water, you name it. It is probably more noticeable on the XP2 because of it being black and white, it might blend in with the color background...

 

[Cheryl Jacobs]

Also, XP2 is extremely fine-grained, so flecks show up more than they might on grainier B&W.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

If I further magnify your detail scan I can see other similar spots of various shades of gray. Since they are printing as well defined black and grey spots, that indicates that they are low density spots in the emulsion. Therefore they lacked exposed silver, lacked developer or lacked dye. Microscopic examination of the defects should provide additional clues.

This is may be a film problem. You could run an additional check of your lab and film. Expose a roll of C41 color film and a roll of XP2 by taking identical shots of open sky. If there are any processing induced dark spots, they should show up.

If both rolls are clean, you won't know what caused the previous problem.

If both rolls are spotted, it is highly probable that the processing is the culprit.

If only the XP2 is spotted, return the film to Ilford for refund/replacement.

 

[geraldatwork]

Have you tried cleaning them off?

 

[Ed Sukach]

They look like "pinholes" to me ... and as soon as I see pinholes I immediately think "shortstop" - or, more properly, an excessively strong shortstop.

One thing comes to mind ... In the C-41 chemistry that I use now, and have used in the past, there is NO shortstop to be used between color developer and bleach-fix. I wonder ... could it be that someone is assuming that even though XP2 is a "chromogenic" film requiring C-41, they are "hooked" on the idea that it is still black and white, and therefore *MUST* require a shortstop?

Is it possible to communicate with your lab and get more information about the specific process?

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Pinholes are a possibility - a microscope would quickly rule that in or out.

But - the problem appears to be happening selectively in the XP2 only. Tht's why I recommended the test in my previous post.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

There is a post on XP2 "black spots" on the Ilford website:

http://www.ilford.com/cgi/ILFOPRO/topic.pl?forum=2&topic=509

I sounds like the same problem. The photographer (from Wisconsin) requested help from Ilford. No response from Ilford yet.

 

[fschifano]

There is a recent thread on photo.net about a possible recall of XP2 because of a manufacturing defect in one or several batches of this film.

 

[Cheryl Jacobs]

Well, I just processed twelve rolls of XP2 (five sessions) and guess what -- black dots on nearly every frame. Wonderful.

 

[Tom Duffy]

Tri-x 320. Trust your feelings, Luke.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Remember Grasshopper, chromogenic films got silver too!

 

[bmac]

Excellent, I just shot a couple rolls at a job this weekend. D'oh!

 

[Silverpixels5]

Do you have to get XP2 developed via C41? I'm guess so. So this means you have to trust your local lab to do a decent job right? I may try some and see how my lab handles it...its been awhile since i've been there.

 

[Tom Duffy]

Remember Grasshopper, chromogenic films got silver too!

When all is said and done, all they got is fading dye clouds. Not that my silver negs are going to be worth millions someday...

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

First bleach out the silver, then you dye and fade.

 

[garryl]

Attention! Offical Ilford announcement~~

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008EY6

Thought you should know

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Ilford have identified & and are recalling a defective batch of XP2:

"This problem has been traced to a batch of film which contained a significant number of defects. Please read the official announcement posted in this forum at :
http://www.ilford.com/cgi/ILFOPRO/topic.pl?forum=2&topic=521

Regards,
David Carper
ILFORD Technical Service"