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Old 23rd October 2016, 08:28 AM
JOReynolds JOReynolds is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: St Albans UK/Agde France
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Default C41

Yes, the problem relates to processing but not necessarily developer exhaustion. It's best to follow the directions published by the chemistry manufacturer. They have experience and measurement equipment that no enthusiast could hope to own or master. I think that the problem occurs between starting to drain the developer and pouring in the blix. Firstly, why agitate excessively in the developer, although this would not necessarily cause the blotchiness you describe. When you have inverted the tank a few times, knock the tank against the sink to dislodge bubbles. Some types of spiral retain bubbles more than others. Second, why introduce a water step between developer and blix? Undiluted, blix is an effective stop bath but development will continue during a water step and, for as long as it takes to drain the developer, fill with water, drain the water and refill with blix, the blix cannot perform its function if the emulsion is swollen with water. If you want to retain the water bath, do the dev-water-blix steps in the dark, passing the spiral(s) between separate tanks.
If you find that developing for 3m15sec at 38°C causes panic, look up the published times for lower temperatures - the procedure will be more leisurely and the results will be just as good.
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