b/w darkroom prints with gold edges

[emilyr]

I've been printing some b/w photos and the last few times my photos have been developing with a strange gold residue along the edges of the paper. I can't find anything on this online. Does anyone know what this is and how I can stop it? I use all ilford paper and chemicals.

 

[ann]

sounds like chemical contamination, how old is the fixer, meaning how many prints have been run through that batch.

 

[emilyr]

All freshly mixed. Very strange. I thought maybe it might be the hard/soft water?

 

[Sbuxo]

Perhaps your paper didn't spend enough time in the water bath.
Don't let that photo touch others, it can spread from photo to photo.

 

[emilyr]

It seems to be happening before they make it to the water bath.

 

[ann]

do you mean before the stopbath, or the washing after fixing?

 

[c.cloudwalker]

I am stumped.

My first reaction was the same as ann (chemical contamination) because in my early B&W work I got gold and silver tones as well as a whole range of amazing colors by letting prints sit in a chemical stew, lol.

Maybe you need to describe step by step your process.

The only thing I can think of is the possibility that you do not wash your trays very well and don't use the same tray for the same chemical all the time.

 

[emilyr]

The next time I print I will give more detail as to when the residue actually appears. I'm almost certain it happens before the print reaches the the fix bath and definitely before the water bath. So it's possible that it happens in either the developer or the stop. I'm careful with properly mixing the chemicals and timing the print in the chemicals. It's possible that maybe I haven't properly washed the trays, i do rinse them after each use, label and only use them for their designated chemicals.

It's not the paper either because I've tried a couple different ones (fresh, just bought a couple weeks prior)

This is so strange and has happened two darkroom sessions in a row. I can't even find anywhere on the internet what this residue might be or what is causing it.

STUMPED!

 

[ann]

i agree, this is very strange. You migh try over at apug.org as that site is dedicated to analog photography and there are a few folks with serious backgrounds and lots of real experience.

 

[emilyr]

Thanks, I posted on apug.org and hopefully someone there might know what's happening here. If any of you are curious, I'll post an update if I manage to solve this darkroom problem.

 

[Sbuxo]

washing after fixing*

and also, are you exposing them to light too early after fixing? It's true after the first full minute of fixing you can bring it out to the light for brief viewing, but longer . . .it might cause that problem. And also not fixing it for the full time can do that, as well as not putting it in the bath after fixer long enough can do that.

 

[ann]

It would effect more than just the edges if exposed to light before fixed properly and if Ralph Lambricht on APUG can't figure this out we are all in trouble.

 

[Sbuxo]

it can start with just the edges.

 

[Paul Ron]

I'll bet it's your stop bath too concentrated. I'll also guess you are using resin coated paper thus the reason it's bleeding under the edges n not uniform over the picture.

The correct dillution of concentrated indicator stop to water is 2oz to the gal and should look more like weak piss, not easter egg coloring dye.

Also be sure when making the stop solutuion to add the concentrate to the water and not the other way round, or you'll create fumes.

 

[Christie Photo]

I'll bet it's your stop bath too concentrated.

Sounds possible. Is an indicator stop bath being used?

Also, are you keeping the paper in the original packaging or a paper safe?

-Pete