• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

VERY odd paper behavior - Ilford MG Fiber Glossy strange issue (attn Simon Galley)

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,937
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format

I agreeand switched to red myself adter noticing that some East European papers didn't like amber. It didn't take too long to get used to the dimmer red lightbut I still recommend a safelight test to be sure.
 

Rick A

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Mar 31, 2009
Messages
10,034
Location
Laurel Highlands
Format
8x10 Format
I've been using #2 red safe lights with 15 watt bulbs since the 60's and swear by them. Yes, OC (amber) is easier to see by, but IMO red is safest. Like Ralph states, several papers I use do not like OC safe lights and fog nearly immediately from exposure to them.
 
OP
OP

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council
Advertiser
Allowing Ads
Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
11,603
Location
Washington DC
Format
Multi Format
Having seen the original prints, THIS problem is not a safelight problem. If it were safelight-induced fogging, the splotches would be black or gray, not white. The paper has a funky scum on it that feels like fixer residue. My original comment to Sora (who asked me to bring this problem to the forum) was that it looked (and felt) like some kind of chemical contamination. I think consensus here bears that out.
 

MartinP

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 23, 2007
Messages
1,569
Location
Netherlands
Format
Medium Format
The safelight question was introduced as a secondary topic in post-17 and is not really a likely candidate for the 'patchy' print. As you say, an ineffective safelight will add exposure - the opposite of the effect seen here.

In post-25, the possibility of the pack of paper having been dropped all over the floor and then tidied up back in to it's plastic bag and carton was suggested. That does fit the scenario quite closely. Worth some specific questions to the students perhaps?
 

cliveh

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Oct 9, 2010
Messages
7,805
Format
35mm RF
I agreeand switched to red myself adter noticing that some East European papers didn't like amber. It didn't take too long to get used to the dimmer red lightbut I still recommend a safelight test to be sure.

I have always used red as it seems to be safe.