Black specks/marks in highlight areas in E-6 transparancies

[Corran]

Having some frustration lately with ridiculous amounts of black specks on my E-6 shots. I'm developing my own E-6, which I did for this very reason - I got a ton of E-6 back from the lab with these specks and marks on them. So that pushed me to do it myself.

They only appear in the highlight areas. I am developing with the Tetenal kit with a dip-and-dunk technique in tanks. Up to 6 sheets at a time. Sometimes they don't appear, some times they are horrible, as in this attached shot. Seems like Velvia 50 is especially prone.

I can see them under a loupe and the emulsion feels slightly rough. I've tried rewashing and physically wiping the film to get it off but it just moves around.

Any clue??

[Pat Kearns]

I'm guessing a possible sediment build up in the chemicals. Run the chemicals thru a filter before your next round of processing then check your results.

[Corran]

I thought that too but I've had it with fresh chemicals as well. I will try that though.

[Fred L]

If it's on lab processed film AND home processed, I'd be looking hard at the film as the source. Only thing is, that would pretty well be either Kodak or Fuji, both of which have excellent QC…

nonetheless...

[Darin Boville]

Just to be clear, the specks are, no doubt, in the treed area as well, they are just harder to see there. You can prove this by making a shot of an even-toned darker area which will show up the specks much more readily than a highly irregularly toned forested area.

--Darin

[RHITMrB]

Is this just on sheets or on rolls as well? Only on E-6 or on all sheet film? Are you loading in a bag, tent, or darkroom? I had a changing bag whose interior was flaking off, depositing serious chunks of dust onto every sheet I loaded before I threw the bag away.

[Corran]

Good question. This is on some old Quickload film though. It does happen on roll film too. However, Fuji films do seem to have more than Kodak film. Just scanned some Ektachrome VS transparencies and one exhibited none of this, and another just a bit - easy enough to spot out in a few minutes. Odd!

Darin, you are right, but I swear after careful inspection there does indeed seem to be much less as density increases.

Regarding the film, I've got a lot of Quick/Readyloads here, including much Velvia 50/100, Provia, Ektachrome VS, T64, etc. - from many different sources and batches. So I could postulate one batch causing most of the issues...

[dsphotog]

Filtered water used to mix/process ?
Laundry (dryer) anywhere near film drying area?

[Corran]

I mix the chemicals with distilled water...but I process in tap water. I guess technically I could use up about 5-10 gallons of distilled water every time I process but...

[dsphotog]

I once had crud in unfiltered city water, then I installed a filter.
I'd try to eliminate one variable at a time.
When processing other types of film, any spots? if not than its not dust from camera, holders, water, or drying.
Look at your E6 chems in a clear graduate, any stuff visible?