Spots on Pan F+

I've been getting a consistent problem with the last couple of rolls of Pan F+ 120 I've developed. I'm getting a rash of spots that appear white on the final print. Attached is a scan of a section of one of the negs. The film was developed in Neofin Blue along with a roll of Delta 100. The Delta 100's absolutely fine.

I've had the film about 18 months and in that time it's been in the fridge or in my photo back pack (probably 80% in the fridge, 20% in the back pack). The film's expiry date is 09/2008 so it's just expired. Are these spots the result of the film ageing or is there some other cause you can think of?

I've only got about three rolls left from this batch so it's not the end of the world if I just have to accept that the film's expired.

Thanks

Barry

Because they appear white in the print and not the negative, I suspect that you are experiencing dust problems. I don't think that it is anything in your fluids because you said that your other film is not having the same problems. Pinholes in the negative would give you black spots in the print, so it is not likely due to aging or chemical reactions. Inspect the negatives immediately after the wash to see if there is anything on them at that stage. If not, it may be that dust is settling on them while the film dries and the Pan F+, for what ever reason, is more prone to dust than the other film for some reason...

Are they both going through the same camera? If not, you might examine the Pan F+ camera to see if there is dust inside that could be getting on the film while it was in camera, although I can't see how it wouldn't wash off in the development process, but still...

- Randy

Did you see this thread? (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

dust - some films seem more prone to it than others, and for me, Pan F+ has been a film that doesn't get too much dust.

try washing it again, you might have to adjust your wash in order to get rid of the specks.

Thanks guys and thanks to the link to the other thread - I hadn't found it before.

I have tried cleaning the negs with Fotospeed film cleaner and it has no effect which leads me to believe that it's something more than dust that's been picked up in the later stages of development - could it be dust at the point of development that's become embedded in the emulsion?

Interestingly both the films that were affected were shot in windy conditions by the sea - is there any chance that dust has been picked up when loading/unloading/carrying the exposed film in my pocket?

Looking at the re-cleaned negs under a loupe on a lightbox the specks look more like fungus than dust as they have a dark core and then fade out over a larger area. Has anyone seen fungus on their film before?!

Thanks again

Barry

It could be salt, driven by the air and once on the film it caused a chemical reaction either with the emulsion or with the developer. I'm not well enough versed in chemistry to speculate intelligently, but since you mentioned a windy day near the sea it seems possible. I live in Florida and even 15 minutes along the windy East coast is enough to coat my glasses with fine salt crystals, so it seems possible that it could have infiltrated the cassette or camera and gotten on the film. That would, at least to me, seem to explain the effect you described with the fungus-like appearance.

- Randy

Randy, you could be on to something there. I too wear glasses and it doesn't take long for them to get covered in salt. I'll have to be more careful when loading the film in these conditions in future - the film was loaded and unloaded on the beach, right next to the sea in windy conditions in both cases.

Thanks again

Barry

..we see this from time to time with pan-F. pan-F is a sensitive emulsion, at least this is our experience, negs or positives. It is a stunning emulsion otherwise. Be sure to use fresh pan-F, always, you will avoid this problem. We have found it is best to leave this film out of the refrigerator. If the film is subjected to moisture of any kind, the film soaks it up causing damage.

regards

dw

www.dr5.com

Thanks dw, that's very useful information. I'll try to buy smaller lots of Pan F in future and use it when fresh.

If you are having dust problems that occured due to dust landing on wet film then it will be quite difficult...probably impossible... to get rid of them.

It makes good sense...especially if you do not have filtered water... to have your final rinse be with photoflo and DISTILLED water. Hang the film to dry where it will be free of dust problems while drying. Resist the temptation to handle the film until it has completely dried.

Good luck.