Sticky residue in C41 stabilizer

Marizu · May 12, 2010

I was developing some C41 films last night but when I finished the stabilizing, I noticed that the stabilizer had some stuff floating in it. It looked a bit like bits of congealed egg or glue.
I'm not sure if this is because the tray that I used had previously had b&w fixer in it (washed out with hot water).
I also had a new box of blue nitrile gloves.
The first 6 sheets of 4x5 looked ok. The first roll of 120 looked ok but dried with a little 'glue spot' on the bottom.
The next two rolls of 120 had more of the 'glue spots' on them.
Are these from contamination with the gloves or something else?

Thank you,
Marizu

Photo Engineer · May 12, 2010

The stabilizer or final rinse both contain Photo Flo 200 which can form these blobs by evaporation of the solution. It is based on how the solution is stored and how long it has been kept. You can usually remove them by filtering the solution. They will mar the film though if left to dry on the surface.

If you re-wash the film though, you must then re-stabilize.

PE

Rudeofus · May 13, 2010

Photo Engineer said:
If you re-wash the film though, you must then re-stabilize.

Does that mean that I must not wash film after applying the stabilizer bath?

Photo Engineer · May 13, 2010

You must NEVER EVER wash color film after the stabilzer/final rinse bath.

PE

Rudeofus · May 14, 2010

Wow, learned something new after two years of C41 and E6

So, basically the final steps are apply the STAB bath, pour STAB bath out of the dev tank, then immediately get the film out of the tank? If there is any need to extra wash, I have to reapply the STAB bath?

Until now I've rinsed quickly after STAB, then rinsed with wetting agent so the water would come off better. With all my film strips already processed this way, does it make sense to put all these strips into a STAB bath again?

Photo Engineer · May 14, 2010

Yes, it makes sense to re-stabilize your film. Otherwise, it will not have optimum stability. You have been washing the stabilizer out of your film.

PE

Rudeofus · May 15, 2010

Photo Engineer said:
Yes, it makes sense to re-stabilize your film. Otherwise, it will not have optimum stability. You have been washing the stabilizer out of your film.

Wow, thanks a lot! I'll try to get some separate stabilizer and get this done soon ...

Photo Engineer · May 15, 2010

Just remember that for C41 there is a Stabilizer and a Final Rinse. These are used to treat two different classes of film. Those prior to about 2004 or thereabouts need a Formalin + Photo Flo Stabilizer and those after about that time use a Bacteriostat + Photo Flo Final Rinse. Make sure you use the right one.

For E6, all versions of these films need a Formalin + Photo Flo Stabilizer if they are rinsed in water after the final step.

PE

Sticky residue in C41 stabilizer

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