Print Artifact

Hi Folks,

I have sporadically had this artifact on my B and W prints. In the
current case, I am using Kodak Polycontrast C as the paper "negative"
in a pinhole camera, that has produced excellent images recently. I
just threw out the "old brown" that I was using, and filled the
developer tray with fresh Dektol, diluted 1:1. When developing, a
"billowing cloud" artifact forms on the image, eventhough you can still
see the image in the background. The temp of the water for dilution
was around 80 deg F, while the Dektol was room temp- around 68 deg F.
Any thoughts on what could be causing the artifact?

Thanks much,

Dave

PS- I have a scanned 67K version of the paper neg, that I can send to
anyone who wishes to see the artifact, I don't see a way of posting the
image on the forum.

Do you have ANY idea how vague this question is?

How can you expect an answer?

Pathos wrote:
Hi Folks,

I have sporadically had this artifact on my B and W prints. In the
current case, I am using Kodak Polycontrast C as the paper "negative"
in a pinhole camera, that has produced excellent images recently. I
just threw out the "old brown" that I was using, and filled the
developer tray with fresh Dektol, diluted 1:1. When developing, a
"billowing cloud" artifact forms on the image, eventhough you can still
see the image in the background. The temp of the water for dilution
was around 80 deg F, while the Dektol was room temp- around 68 deg F.
Any thoughts on what could be causing the artifact?

Thanks much,

Dave

PS- I have a scanned 67K version of the paper neg, that I can send to
anyone who wishes to see the artifact, I don't see a way of posting the
image on the forum.

"Pathos" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi Folks,

I have sporadically had this artifact on my B and W
prints. In the
current case, I am using Kodak Polycontrast C as the paper
"negative"
in a pinhole camera, that has produced excellent images
recently. I
just threw out the "old brown" that I was using, and
filled the
developer tray with fresh Dektol, diluted 1:1. When
developing, a
"billowing cloud" artifact forms on the image, eventhough
you can still
see the image in the background. The temp of the water
for dilution
was around 80 deg F, while the Dektol was room temp-
around 68 deg F.
Any thoughts on what could be causing the artifact?

Thanks much,

Dave

PS- I have a scanned 67K version of the paper neg, that I
can send to
anyone who wishes to see the artifact, I don't see a way
of posting the
image on the forum.

By cloud do you mean something in the image itself or a
cloud of bubbles in the water?


--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Pathos wrote:

Hi Folks, I have sporadically had this artifact on my B and W prints.


How about a sporadic camera light leak? Dan

Thanks for the replies. By billowing clouds, I mean that within the
image on the print, there are grey "splotches" that look like cotton
balls covering the print randomly (obscuring the image where present),
although it is possible to see the true image in the background, in
areas not affected.

I thought about like leak, but thought that it might be oriented
towards one particular area (where the leak is) and that the cotton
ball conformation would be hard to reconcile.

Sorry for the inadequacy of my description, I'm a pathologist by
profession- used to describing cancer, and only an amateur
photographer. As I mentioned in the original post, I do have a scanned
image that I'd be happy to send to anyone who wants to see it.

Thanks and best regards,

Dave

I think I have found the genesis of the artifact. I exposed a
"regular" negative on the same paper, using the same developer, and the
artifact was not formed. I then tried the same process, but without
putting a towel down at the bottom of the door (as I did not do this
morning when I developed the image with the artifact), and the artifact
reappeared. Hence, it does appear to be an issue of fogging, not from
the camera, but from the entrance to the darkroom. Lesson learned.
I'm still wondering why the fogging appears in such an unusual
conformation on the print, as opposed to just a diffuse greying of the
print, as seen when purposely preflashing print paper.

Thanks to all for your input,

Dave

"Pathos" wrote

By billowing clouds, I mean that within the
image on the print, there are grey "splotches" that look like cotton
balls covering the print randomly (obscuring the image where present),

Sounds like not enough time and agitation in the developer. 2 minutes
with reasonably constant agitation is about right for most papers and
Dektol. Keep the developer between 68-75F/20-23C if you can.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
To reply, remove spaces: n o lindan at ix . netcom . com
Fstop timer - http://www.nolindan.com/da/fstop/index.htm

Nicholas,

Thanks for your reply. This may have further exacerbated the artifact,
as I did pull the prints early, as they were somewhat overexposed. I
typically used 1 min for RC papers and 3 min for FB paper at 68 deg F.
I may try some further experimentation to recreate the problem, and
better define all the possible variables involved.

BTW, I am originally from Painesville, and spent much of my graduate
study time in Cleveland. Hope all is cold and grey ;-).

Best regards,

Dave

"Pathos" wrote

1 min for RC papers and 3 min for FB paper at 68 deg F.

That should be plenty, and not the cause of the blotches.

spent much of my graduate study time in Cleveland.
Hope all is cold and grey ;-).

You must be psychic.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
To reply, remove spaces: n o lindan at ix . netcom . com
Fstop timer - http://www.nolindan.com/da/fstop/index.htm

On 16 Mar 2006 13:38:37 -0800, "Pathos" wrote:

PS- I have a scanned 67K version of the paper neg, that I can send to
anyone who wishes to see the artifact, I don't see a way of posting the
image on the forum.

If you forward it to me (jd at legacy-photo.com) I can post it to my
site.

==
John S. Douglas
Photographer & Webmaster
www.legacy-photo,com
www.xs750.net