Stain on the negative

PaulYW · Dec 13, 2022

Hello all. I'm having a trouble with the stain on the B&W negative, mostly Kodak Tri-x 400.

I'm using ilfosol 3, ilfoStop, rapid fixer from Ilford and C-41 flexicolor final rinse from Kodak.

May i ask you what could cause this stain? Thank you.

Doremus Scudder · Dec 13, 2022

My guess would be inadequate fixation, either from exhausted fixer, not enough fixing time, or the film contacting something and preventing fixer from getting to the areas with the stain.

Re-fix the film in fresh fixer and see if the stain disappears. If so, then that's your problem.

Best,

Doremus

koraks · Dec 13, 2022

I'm with @Doremus Scudder - my first guess would be insufficient fixing.

Also:

PaulYW said:
C-41 flexicolor final rinse from Kodak.

Why? Just use Photoflo or distilled water. There's no point in using a C41 final rinse on B&W. Especially not if it happens to be a reused bath also used for other films as it'll just introduce possibilities of cross-contamination.

Ian Grant · Dec 13, 2022

Poor fixing, Tmax films fix slowly due to their high Iodide content, so need longer than most other films. As said possibly exhausted fixer as well, as it also affects the Tri-X.

Ian

Sirius Glass · Dec 13, 2022

As noted above the fixer needs fixing.

PaulYW · Dec 14, 2022

Thank you guys, I will try to use fresh fixer and longer fix time for the Tmax and Tri-x films.
I replenished fixer for 50ml for each roll. I guess it wasn't enough. I thought it worked well when i process Ilford films like Kentmere and HP5.

koraks said:
I'm with @Doremus Scudder - my first guess would be insufficient fixing.

Also:

Why? Just use Photoflo or distilled water. There's no point in using a C41 final rinse on B&W. Especially not if it happens to be a reused bath also used for other films as it'll just introduce possibilities of cross-contamination.

I'm using a processor from Noritsu for the c-41 process. I made a separate final rinse working solution bottle for B&W, ECN-2 process and replenish for each roll.
But I'm having residue on the film surface so i just put films into the processor and do final rinse and dry step these days.

Doremus Scudder · Dec 14, 2022

Paul, learn how to do a clearing test to 1) find your fixing time and 2) determine when your fixer is exhausted.

Test each film for clearing time. Fix a minimum of 2x the clearing time. If you don't want to do this before every batch, then standardize on a fixing time of 4x the clearing time.

Test toward the end of the fixer's life. Discard the fix when the clearing time approaches 2x that in fresh fixer.

EZPZ

Doremus

Stain on the negative

PaulYW

Doremus Scudder

koraks

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Ian Grant

Sirius Glass

PaulYW

Doremus Scudder

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