Platinum Dandruff and Clearing Agents

[Mateo]

The prints I made yesterday have tiny white powder that is barely noticeable in the low values. I used a soft sable brush and it cleans off (but they're still going in the circular file). I'm trying to decide if it's a clear problem or a wash problem and leaning toward the former of the two beacause that's the last variable to change since the problem began.

To clear, I used to use 1. EDTA 2. HCA 3. HCA, but thought that the EDTA was being lazy so I started to go with: 1. Citric Acid 2. HCA 3. HCA. Could this be causing an acid/base precipitation?(didn't do well in Chemistry because I was practicing better living through chemistry)

Arentz does address clearing in The book and I know when my prints are properly cleared because I sometimes print with a masked border. But I'd like to know how to pick the right clearing agent for any given paper and which ones can be used in cahoots with others. And also why the nice gentleman that taught me recommends EDTA,HCA,HCA.

Otherwise my city water just went PH north.

 

[Jorge]

If the white powder appears once the print is dried and your pH has raised, I would guess it is the citric reacting with something like carbonate....I cant thing of anything else. I do the wash with 3 baths of HCA, if the stain is too stubburn I add EDTA...I have never seen that and we also have hard water. Good luck.