"crystallization" of highlight areas? odd problem

[john_mcmahon]

<img src="http://stu.aii.edu/~jfm311/b&wproblem.jpg"><br>

<br>

I was going through some of my images and noticed the above problem

in a lot of my images (the one I posted is the worst, most of the

others only show up in a few areas). The problem does not occur

throughout the entire frame, in the above image it is pretty much

confined to about half of the image, mostly in the lower right corner

and a little strip in the center of the frame.<br>

<br>

The above shot was tri-x in d76 1:1 for 9min 45 sec at 68 degrees,

fixed for 7min in kodak rapid fixer. I have also noticed similar

problems in tmax 400, tmax 100 and tmax 400 pushed to 3200. The

problem doesn't appear in all frames in a roll, it seems pretty

random from what I can tell<br>

<br>

I scanned the above using a minolta dual scan 3. I've posted this

problem on a few other message boards but no one seems to know what

it is. Someone on another message board thought it might be improper

drying procedures, but I've done the standard let 'dry for hours in

the shower' and letting the film dry on the reel with the same

results. I always use photo-flo in my final wash. We do have

extremely hard water in my area

[lex_jenkins]

Never seen anything like that, John.

 

Because of the risk of lime deposits from our rural well water, even with a water softener, I use a lot of distilled water for film processing. I mix up stock solutions and working solutions for all developers using distilled water.

 

For stop bath, fixer and final washes I use filtered water (Brita or other pitcher filters). But I always finish up with Photo-Flo in distilled water too.

 

I can only suggest trying again using distilled water whenever possible or, at the very least, tap water filtered by some other means.

[john_mcmahon]

I know hard water can make water spots appear on the negs when they are dry, but to me it looks like the silver is clumping together

 

filtering the water would at least reduce the amount of water spots I get (though I don't get that many)

[richard_urmonas]

I have not seen an effect like this, but would guess this to be

due to a reaction of silver with some other chemical forming a soluble

silver salt which then migrates into the wet spots and dries / crystalises there. I would suspect contamination in the water.

I suggest using distilled water for the final rinse and the photoflo

wash.

[group 11]

are you by chance checking for clearing during the fixing stage? if so, at what time are you checking it? further, do you exhaust your fixer?

 

certain you have no light leaks in your tanks?

 

also, the image you posted looks like a print from the negative, not a negative in itself. so i assume that the problem is indeed on the negative.

 

it almost appears to me to be solarized, hence my questions above. but it is quite the odd pattern.

 

 

now that i've typed all of that, i'm thinkin' water quality; critical in the negative development stage.

[john_mcmahon]

the image above is a %100 view crop, I did oversharpen the image a bit to make the problem easier to see. The scan is from the original negative, not a print

 

I've been looking for home distillation equipment but I can't find anything designed for small amounts of water.

[group 11]

dunno where you live, but i get distilled water for fifty nine cents per gallon at a grocery store.

[bernhard]

Have you looked at the negs with a loupe? I've seen something similar although in color as a digital artefact when using Vuescan's "long exposure pass" option on my FS4000. If it's on the neg, I don't have a clue.

[ken_schroeder]

John, I always used distilled water for about 45 seconds with very dilute photoflo as the final rinse. I have always dried my film hanging using wooden clothes pins top and bottom. Try using Melitta coffee filters to strain your solutions. Seven minutes in rapid fix seems about twice as long as my time. I suggest you check your fixer time. I use in line filters in my darkroom sink. I don't know if this is necessary, but with the filters in place, I don't worry about it. I like the Brita idea mentioned earlier.

[mike dixon]

Looks just like what you get from overzealous settings on a "dust

& scratches" digital filter (plus some sharpening). Look at the

negs themselves with a microscope or at high enlargement with

an enlarger. I can't guarantee that your problem is a scanning/

filtering artifact, but that seems like the most likely culprit.

[stephen hazelton]

I see little rectangular "crystals"- is that the problem? If so, looks like a scanning problem- the odds of them all being aligned with the film would be incredible, if it was a negative problem.

[john_mcmahon]

I was thinking it might be a scanner issue as well but I don't get the same problem when scanning color negs or positives. Also I would expect the problem to be throughout more of the image if it was a scanner issue

[bernhard]

John, why don't you justtake a loupe or a 50mm normal lens and have a look at the neg? If it's not on the neg it's the scanning and vice versa.