DEFECTS IN NEGATIVES AND PRINTS 541 



3JB. Prevention. — Proper development. Increase time of development. If the 

 developer is exhausted, replace with new developing solution. 



AB. Remedy. — Make a new print. 



\C. Distinguishing Characteristic. — Print generally too light (too weak) when 

 washed and dried, although satisfactory after developing. Delicate shading and 

 detail destroyed; print lacking in snap. 



2C Cause. — Bleaching of print in strong fixing bath, or too long in fixing bath. 



3C Prevention. — Proper fixing of prints. 



AC. Remedy. — Since loss of fine detail and gradations is due to the strong fixing 

 bath attacking and partially reducing the metallic silver, it may sometimes be possible 

 to remedy this defect by putting the print through a bath of a reducing agent, such 

 as a developer, and following this with subsequent fixing and washing. Usually it is 

 more desirable to make a new print. 



Marks and Spots 

 Air Bells. 



1. Distinguishing Characteristic. — Round spots with shaded but fairly well defined 

 edges. The spots may be (a) lighter or (6) darker than the rest of the print, (c) Spots 

 which show up as discoloration upon aging. 



2. Cause.- — The spots are due to air bells adhering to the print during the process- 

 ing, and hence preventing the processing solutions from reaching the print, (o) If 

 the spots are lighter than the rest of the print, the air bells (bubbles) were formed 

 during development so that the developer could not act on the print where the bubbles 

 formed. (6) If the spots are darker than the rest of the print or are discolored, the 

 bubbles have formed in the fixing bath, (c) Spots which show up discolored after 

 some time are due to formation of air bells in the washing operation, so that hypo was 

 not entirely removed. 



3. Prevention.— IvciVLiexse the print quickly in the various solutions, agitating it in 

 solution so that air bells may be prevented from forming. Brushing the surface of the 

 print with a camel's-hair brush or soft cloth or chamois is helpful in removing bubbles. 



4. Remedy. — Local retouching will be required. 



Brown Spots. 



1. Distinguishing Characteristic. — (a) Brown-red stains, usually small, well defined, 

 and of irregular shape, although sometimes covering a large area somewhat uniformly. 

 (b) Brown stains or smudge covering part or all of the print. 



2. Cause. — The red-brown stains in (a) are caused by particles of rust being 

 deposited upon the print from oxidized iron processing utensils, such as tanks or 

 trays, hanging clips, ferrotype plates, etc. They may also be caused by the deposit 

 of chemical particles or dust on emulsion of the print, (b) Brown smudges, marks, or 

 spots, are probably caused by exhausted or oxidized developer. 



3. Prevention. — (a) When the brown spots are due to rust, the rusted utensil 

 should either be discarded or should be cleaned by removing the rust and lacquering 

 or enameling to prevent further rusting. Spots which are due to loose particles of 

 chemicals may be prevented by mixing chemicals in a room separate from that used 

 for processing prints (or films), and by keeping the printing paper protected in its 

 black envelope, cardboard box, or in a drawer until ready for use. (6) Brown spots 

 due to exhausted or oxidized developer may be prevented by using properly com- 

 pounded developer made from pure fresh chemicals. 



4. Remedy. — In some instances it may be possible to wash off rust particles, 

 thereby ridding the print of stains. Usually, however, it is best to make a new print. 



