Adox CHS100 dust in emulsion?

sojournerphoto · 05-17-2009

I've shot some CHS100 lately and a lot of the pictures are showing a lot of dust specs when scanned. Given this is unique to this film, although I treat them all the same, has anyone come across 'dust in the emulsion' on CHS100 stock before? Is it normal or just a bad batch?

I'm fed up of cleaning it up in photoshop - one frame can take several days.

Cheers

Mike

Keith · 05-17-2009

I have used a little of this film lately and I've noticed the same thing ... very spotty. I know it's a very soft emulsion and apparently it's wise to avoid using a squeegee which I did and I suspect that this is part of the problem for me. One of my main reasons for normally squeegeeing film is to get the emulsion surface as dry as possible as quickly as possible so that there is a minimum time where it's tacky and pron to dust adhesion ... but I wasn't game to to do so with the Adox.

It's an unusual film though and has it's own unique look IMO.

sojournerphoto · 05-17-2009

Thanks Keith, I didn't squeegee, and don' tend to for other films either, so perhaps it's more dust magnetic. But it does seem to be part of the film rather than acretion as I've processed and dried it next to Tri X that was fine.

Mike

JohnTF · 05-17-2009

Are you getting "dust" that shows dark, or holes in the emulsion.

Foma had a problem with dust in the emulsion that left holes in the negatives, but in MF film, the 35mm was OK.

Regards, John

WDPictures · 05-17-2009

Haven't noticed any dust on the CHS 50 that I've been using recently but one of my 120 rolls was crinkled, up/folded where it was taped to the spool. Wasn't really a problem just something new.

I GENTLY squeegee my adox/efke without issues, ONLY one or two light passes with a damp sponge. For piece of mind really but I also like that it evens out the dampness of the emulsion for a more smooth dry. Maybe I just like playing in the PhotoFlo...

sojournerphoto · 05-18-2009

The dust is showing up as white speckles on prints - i.e. dark on the neg. I've also shot some CHS25 recently (lovely) and that doesn't show the problem.

Mike

JohnTF · 05-18-2009

The Foma problems left pinholes as I recall.

I am a big fan of distilled water rinses, and if I have problems I might, especially during the winter, mist down the walls of my dungeon/ darkroom with a bit of water.

Found these terrific photographic sponges, from Sweden, went back and bought the lot, have been hoarding them for years.

Am also a fan of hardener in fixes for film, should allow a wipe down if you want.

Regards, John