Entwickler90
Hi,
I’ve just started film development and need some advice on a problem.
I’m using a Durst M305, Fomaspeed N 312, and ADOX NEUTOL ECO concentrate, ADOX ADOSTOP ECO, and ADOX ADOFIX Plus in 1-litre trays. I’ve already tried out various exposure and development times in my darkroom. I always end up with the exposed areas turning completely black within a few seconds in the developer bath. See photo. What could be causing this?
Wolfgg
Hello,
That looks like the exposure is far too strong. Reduce the exposure time or close the aperture until the image looks right. The paper developing quickly is normal, as it contains built-in developer substances (‘Speed’). The first 90% of the blackening happens quite rapidly. And for now, develop by time with the paper face down, so you aren’t tempted to compensate for overexposure by underdeveloping. Hopefully, you’ve prepared the developer at the standard concentration. And the paper’s gradation should be set to Normal or Special to start with. For tests of this kind, use a test strip, not always a whole sheet.
Regards, Wolfgang
klickanalog
Could it possibly be down to your aperture setting? Even after years in the darkroom, I still occasionally forget
to stop down from f/2.8 (the widest aperture for focusing) to f/8 or f/11. That would explain your steep
development curve.
matthias28
Hi there.
It’s not advisable to use different development times in the positive developer.
You should always stick to the specified development time, e.g. 60 seconds.
Are you sure your darkroom is light-tight?
In my opinion, that seems to be the problem.
Try this:
Take a sheet of black-and-white photographic paper and place it in the darkroom with the darkroom light switched on.
After one minute, cover half of the photographic paper to block out the light.
After five minutes, develop it. The side that was exposed to light for 5 minutes should develop dark, whilst the part that was only exposed for one minute must remain completely white.
Next guess:
Your enlarger lamp is too bright, your exposure time too long. A grey filter might help.
How do you control the exposure time?
And how do the black blobs get onto the paper?
