White Spots on Negatives

Barney

Barney

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Wayne
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Will they show up on a print and if so how do you get rid of them?
 
1 - Probably yes
2 - Depends what they are
- Dust - clean it off with a microfiber cloth
- Water marks - try rewashing with photoflo, or gently dab off with a microfiber cloth
- Scratches - Can't be removed
- Blemishes in the emulsion - Can't be removed
 
I am assuming white spots as in precipitated developer or fixer stuck to the emulsion which will show as white spots on the print, have you tried a prolonged re washing?

When my Xtol stock was getting old the resulting negatives looked like they had dandruff. :(
 
I usually get the odd one or two when I have scanned a shot, but some films seem to throw up a few more, no else seems to get them so I am thinking that I must be doing something wrong.

I have not tried to look closely at the negatives, I don't have a light box to check them,

What is precipitated developer please?

I have not tried any further "treatment" after viewing them on the scanner just thought "oh thats s***e" and left them . But I have a couple I really would like to print eventually but whats the point if they have dots everywhere.
 
robhooley167 said:
1 - Probably yes
2 - Depends what they are
- Dust - clean it off with a microfiber cloth
- Water marks - try rewashing with photoflo, or gently dab off with a microfiber cloth
- Scratches - Can't be removed
- Blemishes in the emulsion - Can't be removed
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Can they be removed in the printing stage Rob ifs the odd one or two?
 
In the old days, people spotted prints using retouching dyes; if black marks, after removing the black spot, if white "as is". Dyes are still available as inkjet paper can suffer from dust specks just like negatives (and printing paper).

For identification of the type of mark hold the negative obliquely and scan the surface with a lens.
 
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I need to find the cause

Thanks for all tips and advice. (y)
 
Which film was it, Wayne?

Some faulty batches of Fomapan have had issues with white speckles on the developed negatives. I've been caught by those on more than one occasion, and you'd need the patience of a saint to spot them all from a scan or a print (although I have seen suggestions that a wash in an IPA solution can remove them).
 
I've had occasional white spots with several different film stocks, although most frequently with Fomapan.

As suggested above, it is worth trying a re-wash with a wetting agent.

It may also be worthwhile using distilled water for developing, if you have impurities in your water supply. I generally use distilled water for the final rinse (with wetting agent) and sometimes use it for mixing the developer and fixer too.
 
FishyFish said:
Which film was it, Wayne?

Some faulty batches of Fomapan have had issues with white speckles on the developed negatives. I've been caught by those on more than one occasion, and you'd need the patience of a saint to spot them all from a scan or a print (although I have seen suggestions that a wash in an IPA solution can remove them).
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Hello Nigel

I get the occasional one or two in many films, the worst offender for me has been type 517 where there have been hundreds in some images, I have gone through the whole gamut of considerations from a batch that has failed QC that is why it was not used, too Its all my fault.

I need to pin down exactly whats going on, I will clean out my dark bag and start from there see if that has dust in it or something, I will then look at my chemistry, but even If I develop two rolls in the same tank they are different regards the spotting
 
How big are these spots, what do they look like. Do they appear to be on the surface. Are they transparent or or solid white.
The most common causes are either hard water or undissolved developer or fixer,
The cure is the same rewashing in filtered water.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
How big are these spots, what do they look like. Do they appear to be on the surface. Are they transparent or or solid white.
The most common causes are either hard water or undissolved developer or fixer,
The cure is the same rewashing in filtered water.
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film faults.jpg

film faults-2.jpg
 
Those aren't white spots on the negatives, you are showing a positive.

You need a big kick up the backside, you need to seriously tighten up on your technique. Grainy, under-exposed, you need some basic grounding in film photography.

I've noticed that's not uncommon on this Forum, poor quality film images. They would be laughed at on other Forums.

My background is as a photographer, photo-chemist, emulsion manufacturer, artist exhibiting in galleries, Also teaching photography aged 16, later leading workshops.

You have to go back to the basics.

Ian
 
Ian Grant said:
I've noticed that's not uncommon on this Forum, poor quality film images. They would be laughed at on other Forums.
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Isn't it better to help someone to improve than to laugh at them? The people on those other forums don't sound particularly nice if that's their attitude. Everyone starts somewhere, and we all have to learn and develop (no pun intended) our skills. That's better done through the receipt of meaningful and practical advice than mockery.
 
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Ian Grant said:
Those aren't white spots on the negatives, you are showing a positive.

You need a big kick up the backside, you need to seriously tighten up on your technique. Grainy, under-exposed, you need some basic grounding in film photography.

I've noticed that's not uncommon on this Forum, poor quality film images. They would be laughed at on other Forums.

My background is as a photographer, photo-chemist, emulsion manufacturer, artist exhibiting in galleries, Also teaching photography aged 16, later leading workshops.

You have to go back to the basics.

Ian
Click to expand...

Thanks to the advice I have kindly received from the members on here, I have also discovered that I under developed the film by about 6 minutes - I used the old development times.

Congratulations on your photography career you write like you have a lot to offer a beginner like me. It must be enormously frustrating seeing people make basic errors in terminology.

But for the kind words, helping hands and generosity of advice on this the film section of Talk Photography I would probably have given it up by now. :)
 
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Ian Grant said:
Those aren't white spots on the negatives, you are showing a positive.

You need a big kick up the backside, you need to seriously tighten up on your technique. Grainy, under-exposed, you need some basic grounding in film photography.

I've noticed that's not uncommon on this Forum, poor quality film images. They would be laughed at on other Forums.

My background is as a photographer, photo-chemist, emulsion manufacturer, artist exhibiting in galleries, Also teaching photography aged 16, later leading workshops.

You have to go back to the basics.

Ian
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Maybe some on here do it for pleasure and the enjoyment, not to be a paid professional. Maybe some enjoy learning along the way and taking helpful advice from more experienced photographers.

Your post had come across in a very arrogant way, whether you meant it to or not. If you think people on this forum aren’t worthy, maybe stick to your preferred expert forum where you’re laughed at for getting out with your camera.
 
You've probably already told us, but I'm an old man with a failing memory. How do you dry your films, as in my experience that's where most dust comes from. Have you examined the negatives to see what the spots are? Are they on the emulsion side? Have you used a lens - I'm bring deliberately vague again, as a camera lens can be used as a magnyfing glass.
 
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To be honest Stephen I have not had time to conduct any inspections as a bit busy at the moment, I have penciled it in for the weekend. I dry my films in the bathroom, but the kids are in and out running my gas bill up taking showers etc wafting and slamming doors, it must be like a dust cyclone.

I will get a sheet of ply and make a drying cabinet at the weekend.
 
Barney said:
Thanks to the advice I have kindly received from the members on here, I have also discovered that I under developed the film by about 6 minutes - I used the old development times.

Congratulations on your photography career you write like you have a lot to offer a beginner like me. It must be enormously frustrating seeing people make basic errors in terminology.

But for the kind words, helping hands and generosity of advice on this the film section of Talk Photography I would probably have given it up by now. :)
Click to expand...

We all had to start somewhere, it's easy with digital you see the mistakes instantly. I can't quite remember when I started using film, but around1965/6, but only seriously 1968/69.

I struggled initially, no one to guide me, I took Curt Jacobson's books - Developing, and Enlarging, - out from the school library, and they were my teacher, Both excellent books and many editions over a few decades. I also read the entire 2 Volume version of the Focal Encyclopedia of Photography.

Using film and getting high quality, consistent results, is quite easy after you master some basics of exposure, development times, etc, with some easy testing.

However, you never stop learning. I might have been an emulsion chemist, etc, I went off in a wrong direction after joining a camera club mid 1980s. Ironically I gave the same club a talk last week, nearly 40 years after leaving, and it was a great night.

You are the only person who knows what, and how you shoot, and then how you want to present the images. It's about self-expression, but you need that kick on technique, it is NOT how I do it, it's about evolving your own craft.

Ian
 
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