Originally Posted by
Joe O'Hara
Assuming that the problem is dust spots that print black (I'm a bit confused as this point in the actual complaint), that happens when and only when dust is on the film when it is exposed. The problem is not in the processing.
The solution is to not let this happen. Changing bags or tents are troublesome in my experience. I load my film holders in a not particularly well environmentally-controlled darkroom. I had major problems with dust on the film until I got some canned air and (1) thoroughly blasted out every little nook and cranny, inside and out, in my film holders, and (2) most importantly, after I slipped the new sheet of film into the holder, opened the slide up all the way and gave the film one quick shot with the canned air, and then closed the slide. Result: No more dust spots for three years. It's amazing how much dust can get on a sheet of film moving from the box into the film holder, and it always seems to end up in the sky or in the still water.
This could probably done in a changing tent as well, but perhaps not as reliably. Perhaps you have access to a windowless half-bath or such that can be made light-tight for a couple of minutes, and do it on a countertop, as I did for years.
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