Small Black Specks on Film

I have recently had problems with small black specks showing up on my 120

Delta 400 negatives. They are nearly invisible without a loupe, but definitely

show up as white spots on prints. These are not dust spots�or at least do not

look like any dust I've seen. They are irregular in shape, though tending to

squarish or rectangular form. They are solid black. This is most annyoing�

any ideas on what they are and where they might be coming from? I'm still

relatively new at this, having started processing my own film again after a 20

year hiatus only five months ago.

What is your development process? And chemicals? Is it recurring?

This is a complete shot in the dark, but... Are you using a powder developer? Was it completely dissolved before you started processing??

This is my question�let me see if I can add more information. This has

happened with the last three rolls of Delta 400. I've also processed several

rolls of Tri-X (not at the same time) during this period, but have not yet found

specks on them (though I'm going to have to go back and look harder�I've

not printed all of the frames).

 

There are not many specks on the affected rolls. Typically only a few frames

are affected (no pattern on where in the roll the affected frames fall), and an

affected frame may only have one or two of the spots. I wish there were a

clearer pattern.

 

I'm using a liquid developer (Ilford DD-X), Kodak stop bath (plain water rinse

on the most recent roll), Kodafix, Kodak HCA, and Photo-Flo. Perhaps there's

something swirling around in one of these that sticks to the film?

Hi Ben

I've just developed my first black and white film at home (having recently started a course and previously done this at college). I think I have a similar problem to you. About 5 of my negs have black dots/specs on them. The rest of the film looks fine. I've been trying to find out what might have caused them. A few things were mentioned elsewhere in this forum including air bubbles or too strong a stop but both of these would cause white patches on negs not black, I think. The other suggestion is that they are highlights, specular something or other ? This would make sense on my negs as they are pictures of motorbikes, lots of gleaming metal on a very sunny day.

As suggested above I would also suspect particles of undissolved developer. Try filtering the developer or if that's not possible mix another batch and ensure everything is completely dissolved. Or try a liquid concentrate such as Rodinal or HC110.

I think you have calcium deposits on your film. They may come from a filter on your faucet that is clogged with calcium. If so, remove the filter or get a new one and use it only for film work.

Another possibility is that your stop is too strong. A strong stop bath can cause a chemical reaction and result in little 'explosions' in the film emulsion that appear as pinholes. The stop bath shouldn't be stronger than 1 oz. of 28% acetic to a quart of water.

Hello Ben,

 

I've been having the exact same problems with 120 Delta 100 and 400. I've tried using a more dilute stop bath but this didn't help.

While I haven't been able to find the cause of this problem (could very well be calcium deposits like described above), I have found a practical solution:

 

The black spots are easily removable when the developed film is still wet. While the film is still wet the black grains are still loose on the film.

After the final wetting agent bath I hold the film up with one hand and gently run the film between my thumb and index finger of the other hand (I wet my fingers with wetting agent before each run) until i can no longer feel the grains.

Remember to rub very gently or else you'll damage the emulsion.

You can distinctly feel the black grains, so it's like you're gently washing the grains off the film.

You can also do this while holding the film under a slowly running tap (so the grains are more washed away instead of being rubbed off, decreasing the risk of damaging the emulsion). In this case the wetting agent isn't of much use however and it requires some acrobatic skills to keep the film from rubbing on the sink.

 

Good luck,

Onno

Onno�that does sound like the same phenomenon. Now that you mention it,

I have seen some larger black particles on the dried film that flaked off rather

easily. The smaller ones that have been causing the problems seem to be

firmly attached, unfortunately. Why some would come off easily while others

adhere stubbornly, I don't know.

 

I will either try your solution�though I've been reluctant to use anything,

fingers included, to squegee the film for fear of scratching it�or distilled water

and see what happens.

 

I've been keeping my fingers crossed that this is a processing and not a film

problem, because I have fallen in love with Delta 400.

If the spots are solid particles then you should go the wipe down route. Just wet your fingers and glide over the spots, you won't damage it. If they are higher densities in the emulsion then its a developer/exposure problem.

I had this problem for a whole year !!!! Tried everything I could think of at home and finally stumbled on the solution by sheer chance. It was the wetting agent. After I stopped using wetting agent I no longer had the problem of black specks. Just give the film a good wash at the end of processing and hang without having it sit in wetting agent.

 

Good luck!

Why not ask Ilford tech support at 201-265-6000 or us-techsupport@ilford.com.

 

Otherwise...make your final rinse in wetting agent (I like Edwal LFN) in distilled water, and don't reuse it.

I have had similar problems with Ilford as described above and sent their reps film samples. They never responded back to me after several follow-ups. I did find a foolproof solution though. I switched to TMAX films. No more spots.

This happened to me using TriX-400 films and D-76 developer. It was about 8

years ago, but I'm pretty sure the black specs weren't loose and removable in

any way. Eventually, after 10 rolls of film being wasted, I called Kodak and

they were very interested. On their request I sent them a sample of both film

and developer and they went through it all in their lab with great enthusiasm.

However... they were unable to determine the cause of it and so they gave me

cash money back for 10 rolls of film (!) and I went to the store and bought Agfa

APX and Rodinal instead. Felt a bit guilty about that actually, since they were

so great to deal with at Kodak. With new film and developer the problem was

gone. So... if you are experiencing the same kind of spots, at least you can

eliminate the water. (I have always used the same tap). There are then two

possibilities left:

1. The developer.

2. The film.

These were the only changing factors I had. It could be a production fault in

either. The logical step would then be to eliminate one factor and see what

happens. Are the spots still there if you try a different developer? Or a different

film? If this doesn't help, then I'm afraid your darkroom may be haunted.

 

Good luck!!!