Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Kobrin" 
<skobrin@h...> wrote:
> I developed two rolls of FP4+ last night in HD-11 and do not recall 
> doing anything I had not done 50 or 100 times before.  However, 
when 
> I scanned the negatives they were "filthy."  A very large number of 
> small white spots all over the frame.  Looking at the negs with a 
> loupe I can see black spots all over.  I am not sure that they are 
> dust as they are black.  I used brand new fixer, and I think the 
stop 
> bath and clearer are ok.  Any ideas as to what might be causing 
> this??  I air dried the film in the same bathroom I always do and 
> neither the hear nor the air came on.  
> 
> Most of the negatives on both rolls are beyond spotting with the 
> clone tool.  The only thing I can think of is that it was a humid 
> night and perhaps the film was not quite dry when I put it in the 
> sleeves.  But, not really likely.
> 
> While I always assume that there is a fixed ratio of dumb mistakes 
to 
> rolls developed, I would like to know what happened.
> 
> Any help appreciated. 
> 
> Steve


 I had the same problem on an occasional basis and decided the 
problem may be caused by impurities appearing at random times in the 
water and contaminating the surface at the last stage of the process. 
I eliminated this by pouring ordinary bottled water - bought at any 
store, over the film from top to bottom instead of the usual soak in 
a photoflo type solution. If this does not work try wearing well 
washed surgical gloves when hanging the film up to dry.  Just a 
couple of thoughts which may help.  best of luck  .  .  .  .  John