yellowing of paper?

[Ishotharold]

In some of my prints I've noticed a slight yellow tinge to the paper, others are nice and bright white, often I dont notice unless they are side by side. I'm sure its something simple, but I'm new to film. The paper is illford RC multigrade, not sure on the developer as I havent heard back from the prof. yet to find out whats in the tank.

 

[Gary Holliday]

Let's start with the basics..Did you correctly fix the print, agitating it intermittently, for the recommended time?

 

[Ishotharold]

yup, correctly according to the professor, again I'm waiting to here back from him on what chem so I can find out if I've got the times. Fixer could be old, however, I think that this would reflect in all prints from the same bath, its not weakening because I got white prints after yellow prints last night.

 

[donbga]

yup, correctly according to the professor, again I'm waiting to here back from him on what chem so I can find out if I've got the times. Fixer could be old, however, I think that this would reflect in all prints from the same bath, its not weakening because I got white prints after yellow prints last night.

If you are working in a school darkroom, you probably are a victim of poor quality control of the fixer, hypoclearing bath and inadequate washing. School darkrooms are notorious for poor quality standards.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Incomplete fixing, caused by either exhausted or old fixer, insufficient fixing time or poor agitation, is detectable by sulfide toning. Apply a drop of working-strength sulfide toner to an unexposed, undeveloped, fixed, fully washed and still damp, test strip for 4 minutes. The toner reacts with silver halides left behind by poor fixing and creates brown silver sulfide. Any stain in excess of a barely-visible pale cream indicates the presence of unwanted silver, and consequently, incomplete fixing. Compare the test stain with a well-fixed material reference sample for a more objective judgement.