RE: [Leica] Darkroom Mystery

["Rodgers, David" <david.rodgers@xo.com>]

Guy,

Sorry I can't help. But your situation reminded me of something. I had a
problem with stained prints a couple of months back. Bothered me to now end.
I finally traced it back to the containers I used to mix chemicals. I mixed
them up. 

Contrast that with a problem I had recently with severe banding on digital
prints I made. Rather than both me, it was almost like it was to be
expected. Par for the course, in other words. Just part of the digital
world. 

Finally got that resolved, too. But isn't it interesting how much more we
expect for conventional printing? I know I have much higher expectations! Or
maybe higher comfort level is a better description..

Dave

- -----Original Message-----
From: Guy Bennett [mailto:gbennett@lainet.com]
Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2001 12:27 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: [Leica] Darkroom Mystery


Lugfolk thick and thin,

I spent yesterday afternoon in the darkroom and had a problem that I can't
figure out: I made ten 11 x 14 prints, one of which has a brownish-purple
stain right in the middle. I was printing on Ilford FB Glossy paper, the
ten sheets were all from the same batch and were all processed in the same
chemicals; only one was marred by a stain.

I'm pretty careful about getting chemicals on my hands, about touching
paper when my hands are wet, and I wash and dry my hands frequently when
working in the darkroom for the day or afternoon. The chemicals were fresh,
and all the prints got a hypoclear bath, then a good wash of at least 15
minutes before I took them out and squeegeed them off. The same exact thing
happened to me the week before, which was the last time I printed before
yesterday. Out of one dozen prints, one was stained, a brownish-purple
stain right in the middle of the paper.

Does anyone have any idea what might have caused such a stain, and how it
could have effected only one print out of 10-12?

I'd appreciate any clues as to what it might have been, and suggestions as
to what I can do to avoid it in the future.

TIA,

Guy