Brown Stain on Fiber Border?

[Villanova]

Hi RFF,

Can anyone tell me what this brown stain on my print is? I'm using Ilford 8x10 glossy fiber paper.

- Eco Pro Black and White Paper Developer
- Eco Pro Clearstop
- Eco Pro Clearfix

My guess is contamination via tongs?

 

[sevo]

If it is emulsion side only, underfixed (i.e. the stains are due to silver salts that still remain in the emulsion). If it affects the back side as well, too much time in spent fixer (a silver deposit out of the fixer).

 

[Villanova]

If it is emulsion side only, underfixed (i.e. the stains are due to silver salts that still remain in the emulsion). If it affects the back side as well, too much time in spent fixer (a silver deposit out of the fixer).

Thanks for chiming in. The stains are on the emulsion side only. Definitely underfixed then?

 

[x-ray]

I've seen this on the edge of test prints when I'm rushing the print.

You didn't say whether your using a stop or water bath and the kind of fixer.

I use nothing but fiber paper and use a water bath for stop and a 2 tray formulary TF 4 or 5 fix.

I find if I give adequate stop and then immerse and agitate my prints in the fix for 1 full minute I never get this. Using two fix trays I give a full minute in tray 1 and then put the print in tray 2. I'll agitate constantly for about 15 seconds and then turn the light on. (Formulary fixer is very high speed. What you're using may require more time. )

If I follow this procedure I never get stains.

 

[Villanova]

I've seen this on the edge of test prints when I'm rushing the print.

You didn't say whether your using a stop or water bath and the kind of fixer.

I use nothing but fiber paper and use a water bath for stop and a 2 tray formulary TF 4 or 5 fix.

I find if I give adequate stop and then immerse and agitate my prints in the fix for 1 full minute I never get this. Using two fix trays I give a full minute in tray 1 and then put the print in tray 2. I'll agitate constantly for about 15 seconds and then turn the light on. (Formulary fixer is very high speed. What you're using may require more time. )

If I follow this procedure I never get stains.

Good point. I updated my OP with what I'm using.

- Eco Pro Black and White Paper Developer
- Eco Pro Clearstop
- Eco Pro Clearfix

 

[sevo]

There are several reasons for residual silver - underfixing is the most common, but pH issues (no or spent stop), spent fixer and fixer contamination in developer or stop can cause it as well.