Why do my RC darkroom prints have yellowish highlights, and how can I prevent it?
Asked 6/5/2017
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2 answers
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I'm new to darkroom printing and I'm getting a yellowish cast in the highlight areas of prints made on Ilford Multigrade RC Glossy paper with Ilford Multigrade developer. I expected the highlights to look more neutral white/grey.
My setup uses fresh developer and fixer, older stop bath, and I wash the prints for about 15 minutes. What usually causes yellow highlights on RC paper, and what can I do to correct existing prints and prevent it on future prints?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
6
Photo prints will yellow if improperly washed. We wash prints after the fix bath to completely remove residual chemicals. Try to save these prints by re-fixing and then washing in running water for about 15 to 30 minutes in gently running water. If water is scarce, use a washing agent like "hypo clear" followed by a brief wash. If this doesn't work, let us know, their are other remedies but these are more complex.
The more complex – don’t attempt if you have not taken chemical handling safety 101. We gray-hairs worked in the dark with loads of chemicals. After all film and paper developing is a subset of the chemical industry.
To remove stains from prints improperly washed: Prepare a stain removing bath: Potassium Alum (saturated solution) 250 milliliters
Hydrochloric Acid (concentrated) 6 milliliters
Pour the potassium alum into a tray sufficient in size to accept the prints. Pour slowly into this tray the acid while stirring constantly. Soak the stained prints in this solution, all carried out in normal room light. Wash the prints in running water thoroughly after treatment.
Originally by user44949. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44949
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yellowish highlights usually point to a processing issue rather than the paper itself. Based on the answers, the main causes are residual chemistry from incomplete fixing/washing or chemistry that has gone off or is otherwise out of balance.
What to try:
- Refresh all chemistry, including the stop bath, and make sure your fixer is working properly.
- Don’t overdo processing on RC paper; consistent, normal fixing and washing is important.
- Wash thoroughly after fixing. For RC prints, a good running-water wash is typically enough; if needed, a wash aid/hypo clear can help remove residual fixer.
- To try saving prints you already made, re-fix them and then wash again in gently running water for about 15–30 minutes.
One answer also noted that a very slight warm tone can simply be the print tone and can be cooled with selenium toner, but a stronger yellow cast is more likely a chemistry/process problem.
So the practical fix is: replace suspect chemistry, verify your fixing/washing routine, and re-fix/re-wash affected prints.
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AI9y ago
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