Stop The Bleeding!!

The black area at the perimeter of my palladium photographic image is bleeding soot out into the white base of the paper (Cranes... comes with the kit... don't like it and will abandon it) at the development stage. It also plumes out into the liquid developer (ammonium citrate). A soot halo remains after clearing and washing the print. What could be causing this and most importantly what is the remedy.

Thanks!

Annie,
You might try letting the coated paper rest a bit longer before drying so the solution goes deeper into the paper. Also try using Di Sodium EDTA for the first clearing bath instead of Tetra Sodium EDTA. Hope this helps.
Wm Blunt

Quick update... I spoke with Kevin at B&S and he related that this is sometimes a problem with the Cranes when it is double coated (which is what I was doing) also improper agitation can amplify the problem.... apparently it is more of an issue with Pt than Pd. Wm thanks for your suggestions I will try them also. Other than this problem I have been making reasonable progress with my printing!!

Cheers Annie

I assume we're talking about Cranes Platinotype (not Kid Finish), which I use but have never experienced the bleeding problem. I let my paper dry thoroughly - at least 10 or 15 minutes in very low humidity - before printing. I clear using B&S's EDTA and citric acid. I found that clearing in EDTA alone didn't quite make the whites white, but the combination, in two separate baths, works great. If you're using Tween 20, stop. That may be the whole issue in itself.