ABC Pyro staining issue

[Thom Bennett]

Notice the yellowish stains in the corners. Did I not fix long enough? Not enough agitation in the fix? Other issue?

[Drew Wiley]

I haven't personally worked with ABC. But most pyro developers are intended to give a proportional stain. If the stain itself is uneven, something about your agitation pattern probably was too.

[Thom Bennett]

Ah, so it's more likely a development issue? I use the shuffle method and think I am consistent in rotating through the batch.

[Drew Wiley]

With big sheets like that, there's more to it than just consistent shuffling. That should be obvious from your result. It was not in fact consistent in every manner. I could say more, and maybe will later; but it would be preferable if someone else, with specific ABC experience, would chime in first.

[Thom Bennett]

Thanks Drew. I'll keep an eye on it.

[Doremus Scudder]

Just a thought here (I don't use ABC pyro either, rather PMK).

It looks like some of the negative is not stained at all (or only slightly), and other areas really stained. Oxidation may be your culprit here, or possibly the stain in the clearer areas was removed somehow.

You might try removing the stain entirely using a sodium sulfite bath or strong selenium toner bath and see if you can salvage the neg. The selenium toner will add about as much density as the stain you lose.

Best,

Doremus

[Michael Kadillak]

I use ABC regularly. Likely not sufficient agitation in the fixer. Couple of comments. I have read that regular Kodak fixer inhibits the stain whereas TF4 Formulary fixer does not. Secondly, I have the same yellow sections in a number of my ABC negatives and I don't worry about it and print through it. Does not make a lick of difference.

[Drew Wiley]

I've used TF4 alkaline fixer for every pyro formula I've ever tried (which does not include ABC).

[Thom Bennett]

Michael, thanks for info. Means a lot coming from another ABC user.

I use ABC regularly. Likely not sufficient agitation in the fixer. Couple of comments. I have read that regular Kodak fixer inhibits the stain whereas TF4 Formulary fixer does not. Secondly, I have the same yellow sections in a number of my ABC negatives and I don't worry about it and print through it. Does not make a lick of difference.

[Thom Bennett]

Drew, thanks for the info. I have read that TF4 is the best for pyro. I'll give it a try.

I've used TF4 alkaline fixer for every pyro formula I've ever tried (which does not include ABC).