Focomat Ic newton ring problem & haze on lens

[bogelgelbo]

So to make the long story short, my enlarger started to make newton rings now since I cleaned out the condenser. :bang::bang::bang:

During almost months before today I never experienced newton rings before. I cleaned out the condenser using compressed air (dust off), brush, and lens pen.

What did I do wrong? And how to overcome this problem and make it work normally as before? I wont buy the rare anti newton ring filter though since it is to pricey.

On the other note, finding out this problem made me looking out for any problem might be hidden. And guess that I find another one :bang::bang::bang:, my componon lens is also have a faint haze in it. Will it have any effect on my prints? Can it still be cleaned or I better look out for another one?

 

[bogelgelbo]

There should be an Anti-Newton glass between the condenser bottom and the neg top. Is it in place?

There is no anti newton glass before. I also don't understand why it does not make any newton ring before yesterday.

 

[sevo]

There is no anti newton glass before. I also don't understand why it does not make any newton ring before yesterday.

There obviously was a AN top glass installed! You either flipped it so that the AN side is now pointing up or mixed it up with the bottom glass. The regular negative holder configuration would be plain glass below, and AN glass with the AN (microscopically rough) side down on top.

That is, the anti-newton ring surface is always on a inner side of the holder - in particular, the one facing the bare base of the film, which usually would be the upper. But there can be odd exceptions when printing off something other than originals - contact printed internegatives have emulsion and carrier sides reversed, and for these you might have to swap the holder glasses (still pointing inward!).

Going by PKR's link, the Focomat Ic ANR glass slips over the condenser, so you can hardly have misplaced it with the bottom - you may have inadverently left it out or mixed up its bottom and top sides. Or it has already been missing, and a layer of dirt on the condenser fulfilled the same purpose (of preventing the air film between condenser and film becoming so thin that it interferes with visible light).

 

[bogelgelbo]

I don't know. Mine has an Anti-Newton glass. Maybe your negative has more surface touching the condenser than before. Could be the weather?

See if you can find a Anti-Newton glass for your enlarger. Most came with one. Maybe your's was lost over time and owners?

I'm kinda blaming myself for cleaning it. The anti newton parts for the Ic are too expensive since I got the enlarger pretty cheap. Gonna try a few thing to lessen the moisture level in the darkroom. I hope it will work since I cannot print anything now.

 

[sevo]

Gonna try a few thing to lessen the moisture level in the darkroom.

Increase it, if any - low moisture makes matters worse where newton rings are concerned.

There are other tricks, like blowing a minuscule amount of fine non-sticking powder (e.g. lycopodium, talcum or teflon spray) onto the blank side of the film.

 

[bogelgelbo]

Increase it, if any - low moisture makes matters worse where newton rings are concerned.

There are other tricks, like blowing a minuscule amount of fine non-sticking powder (e.g. lycopodium, talcum or teflon spray) onto the blank side of the film.

Will try the non sticking powder method, but will it showed in the prints? The powder I mean.

I also gonna try to make a DIY version of the mask "NEWOO" using a black paper or black negative.

 

[Landshark]

On the 1C the AN glass was an accessory. It slips onto the bottom of the condenser and presses on the top surface of the negative.
If you can buy a piece of AN glass cut to size, The condenser would hold it in place.

 

[Dwig]

Will try the non sticking powder method, but will it showed in the prints? The powder I mean...

No, not if an appropriate powder is used. The grains will be too small to resolve. BTW, cornstarch is another powder often recommended. Blow off all the powder that you can, just don't wipe. Treating the glass that contacts the film can often be as effective as treating the film itself.

A like coat of nearly microscopic dust will prevent Newton rings. Your cleaning may have removed an unseen coating of such dust, perhaps naturally accumulated.