Ortho Fogged under Safelight?

Developed my first 4x5's yesterday using an HP Combi tank. The film was stuck to a glass-plate (w. honey) and placed in an FKD plate holder under a paterson red safelight wrapped in rubylith in a DARKroom.

Here's my question: Should Adox ortho 25 appear somewhat evenly opaque after proper development? (Rodinal 1:100 18min)

The photos scan well on the 4990, and are sharp.

Haven't had a chance to process in total darkness yet, but will give it a go after work.

Not sure about the specific film, but you certainly can fog ortho film with a safelight. I've fogged BLUE ONLY film with a safelight. If it was too close or too bright, its definetely possible.

Do a safelight test to see ...

IT is possible if you had the film closer than the recomended distance to the safelight, or if the safe light is using a bulb bit brighter than recomended (typically 7.5W bulb, with a distance no shorter than 4 to 6 feet from the film).

You can always put a sheet on your working area, put some coins on top of it, and let it sit there accross from the safelight for several minutes, and develop it, if you see the shape of the coins, then your safelight is not safe, or it needs to be placed further away ( or direct light blocked, so yer onlyw orking under reflected light)

Development by inspection is an acquired skill. Proper development should be judged looking at the base side of the film and not the emulsion side. Most people find the time/temperature method easier.

Gerald Koch said:

Development by inspection is an acquired skill. Proper development should be judged looking at the base side of the film and not the emulsion side. Most people find the time/temperature method easier.

Click to expand...

True since looking at the emulsion side, doesnt truely tell you how developed an image is, when you may actually be pulling it out too soon. Better to wait til you see an image, flip it over and watch the base side, either matching the front, or appearing dense enough in areas, depending on the desired exposure level.