Hi all, I’ve just started using my Pinsta (4 sheets in) and I’ve experienced some weird discoloration that I wonder if someone can help me solve. Attaching a photo to help me explain.
The 2 sheets on the left were taken with new Harman Direct Positive that I rated at ISO 3, exposed for 5-6 mins in a shade on a sunny day with outside temps around 68 F. I developed and fixed with Ilford Multigrade and Rapid Fixer diluted to 1+9 and 1+4 respectively. These images came out about how I expected them to.
Fast forward to the next day, I took my Pinsta and premixed chemicals (mixed just before leaving - direct to tubes) on a hike in sunny hot weather (about 80-85 F). I noticed when I took my tripod and camera out of my bag tha they were kind of hot. For this day I diluted my developer and fixer to 1+14 and 1+9. The top right image was a 37 sec exposure on older Harman Direct Positive that I wanted to test (it’s about 3-5 years old and been kept in the bottom of a drawer in my house [not the best place I know]). So, I wonder if this sheet was expired or I just miscalculated my exposure.
I exposed the sheet on the bottom right for 1 min and used the new Harman sheets that I shot the day before and the sheets that you see on the left side of the image; t
his looks better. BUT each sheet on the right is discolored with some sort of sepia or brown tone in the highlights. I’m trying to figure out what might have caused this, maybe the sheet film or developer was too hot during the process?
Any helpful notes would be happily received.
I'd be inclined to say this is insufficient fixing. Perhaps you could give more information on the duration of fixing, the amount of agitation , and whether you used that fix before.
From my experience this is just old paper. I've had the same thing before when messing with old stock. The chemicals on the sheet have expiration dates for this reason, it degrades. The fridge is your friend for extending the life of film and paper stock, just make sure it's back to room temperature before using it.
😁