Streaks and off color portions on RA-4 prints

jjss1993 · Apr 16, 2021

Hi guys. I've been getting random streaks on my RA-4 prints every so often and I can't figure out what it's from. It seems like from where the streaks begin, the sections to follow slightly differ in color. Here are some examples-

https://flic.kr/p/2kTgYLE (left hand side)
https://flic.kr/p/2kTe3mN (center, bottom portion of sky)
https://flic.kr/p/2kTgvbX (top right) *a little harder to see

I can see the streaks on the physical prints so I know it's not a scanner thing. I use trays to develop and have tried using new chemicals but I still get the occasional streaks. I started agitating the chemicals by rocking the trays gently back and fourth as opposed using the tongs to stir and introduced a water-vinegar stop bath in between the developer and blix and that significantly lowered the probability of streaks. I definitely don't get them on every print that I make but they do pop up every now and then. Any ideas?

Many thanks.

foc · Apr 17, 2021

How much chemical is in each tray and what time & temperature?
Have you tried entering the paper into each bath image side down, gently agitate and then turn the print so it is image facing up?
If your stop bath between developer and bleach/fix has reduced streaks then it would suggest that your bleach/fix bath was affected by developer carryover. Try more bleach/fix liquid in the tray.

koraks · Apr 17, 2021

jjss1993 said:
https://flic.kr/p/2kTgYLE (left hand side)

Looks like partial fogging of the sheet, for example due to storing the sheets in a not entirely light proof box/bag. Something covering the top sheet partly can leave part of the sheet exposed to the fogging light while the covered part remains protected.

https://flic.kr/p/2kTe3mN (center, bottom portion of sky)
https://flic.kr/p/2kTgvbX (top right) *a little harder to see

I mostly see light falloff/vignetting for instance due to the use of an inappropriate lens for the negative format (without sufficient coverage) or partial blockage of the light path in the enlarger.

jjss1993 · Apr 27, 2021

foc said:
How much chemical is in each tray and what time & temperature?
Have you tried entering the paper into each bath image side down, gently agitate and then turn the print so it is image facing up?
If your stop bath between developer and bleach/fix has reduced streaks then it would suggest that your bleach/fix bath was affected by developer carryover. Try more bleach/fix liquid in the tray.

Hi, sorry to get back to you so late.

I have an Arista kit so I just followed the instructions to make 2 liters worth-
1562.5 ml of water, 125ml of developer a, 62.5ml of developer b and 250ml of developer c + 1 liter of water, 500ml of blix a and 500ml of blix b.

I've unintentionally entered the paper into the baths face down on a few, but never paid attention if the streaks appeared on those or not. I'll try that. Thanks for the note on adding more blix too.

jjss1993 · Apr 27, 2021

koraks said:
Looks like partial fogging of the sheet, for example due to storing the sheets in a not entirely light proof box/bag. Something covering the top sheet partly can leave part of the sheet exposed to the fogging light while the covered part remains protected.

I mostly see light falloff/vignetting for instance due to the use of an inappropriate lens for the negative format (without sufficient coverage) or partial blockage of the light path in the enlarger.

Hmm, I keep the sheets wrapped in the lightproof black bag and box that they come in, but perhaps I'll switch to a paper safe.

Thanks for the tip about the wrong lens size, I was curious about that. Any recommendations on a lens for 67 negatives? I'm currently using a 75mm.

jjss1993 · Apr 27, 2021

foc said:
How much chemical is in each tray and what time & temperature?
Have you tried entering the paper into each bath image side down, gently agitate and then turn the print so it is image facing up?
If your stop bath between developer and bleach/fix has reduced streaks then it would suggest that your bleach/fix bath was affected by developer carryover. Try more bleach/fix liquid in the tray.

Oh, and I do both baths for 2 minutes each at room temperature.

foc · Apr 27, 2021

jjss1993 said:
Oh, and I do both baths for 2 minutes each at room temperature.

Thanks for getting back.
What temperature is room temperature?

afriman · Apr 28, 2021

To me it looks a lot like vignetting. You can confirm this by printing a full frame (uncropped) image as well as one which is cropped from all four sides. If the effect is present on the uncropped image but not on the cropped one, you will know that it's vignetting. The extent of the effect may also be influenced by the chosen aperture.

perkeleellinen · Apr 28, 2021

I can only see the streak on the first link, the other two show white vignetting at the edges that I thought was purposeful.

That streak, I would check to ensure proper coverage of chemistry espeically during agitation. I did wonder if it might be a caused by stray light, like you've quickly passed the print close to a light source. Perhaps your watch, phone or too-close safelight.

Streaks and off color portions on RA-4 prints

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