This is an example of what I have long complained of. It is, indeed, a yellowing of the base and cannot be corrected unless you try to correct it somewhat with restrainer (benzotriazole, perhaps). Even then, it is corrected only somewhat. And, let's face it, the truncated development necessary for development without base density will possibly compromise the blacks and turn them into blue-blacks. How I do wish that there was a full remedy that we have for B&W paper whereby we can use Farmer's Reducer after the fix to 'bring back' the pure whites that make the print outstanding.
I did not try PE's offering but I have a feeling that this problem is NOT with the blix (I could well be wrong, though). The most frustrating problem with color paper has ALWAYS been the inability to produce absolutely pure whites unless the paper is really new. And, yes, like the OP, I also tried freezing paper (at great cost to my ability to store food) only to find out that this 'solution' was not really a solution. This slow deterioration is fully correctable with B&W paper until the B&W paper gets considerably fogged. That luxury does not exist with color paper and you cannot simply change filtration because you NEED that pure white in so many scenes. This is the MAIN reason that I limit my color work. VERY annoying. The 'coin' test is best to determine the extent of the fog: simple hold down a coin, FIRMLY, on the paper under full room light and then process. - David Lyga
