User Profile: Rod Dresser
My introduction to photography was unique. As the most junior
officer on my first submarine assignment, I was given the responsibility to learn to use
the Polaroid camera that was designed to photograph through the attack periscope. My
recollection is I made mention that I owned a 35mm camera to the Executive Officer and he
felt that automatically qualified me as the shipboard photographic expert. This periscope
camera was for training and intelligence purposes. It was a modification of a 4x5 camera
body that used the fine (Kollmorgen) optics in the periscope. As I recall, it used what is
now type 52 film.
The camera was used to record practice torpedo runs and
gather intelligence. We kept Polaroid working nights to supply us film to photograph the
North coast of Cuba during the Russian build-up in the early sixties. The experience gave
me an appreciation for the technical aspects of photography. The aesthetic character of
the art form was to come later.
After my retirement from the Naval Service, I had the
opportunity to take some community college instruction in photography. Though I was
exposed to some technical material and some art appreciation, my impression was the
classroom experience was less than fulfilling. There were two problems for me as a student
- there were a number of participants that were there for an "easy credit" and
thus had no real interest in the subject and the time between learning sessions was too
long. I was interested in getting as much information as possible in the shortest time
period feasible. School may be the only way that most photographic enthusiasts can get
their education, but I have found that personal study and attending photographic workshops
is much more valuable for me.
Personal study involved reading every book on the technical
and aesthetic aspects of photography. When I found a book that was worthy and resources
were available, I would purchase it for my library. The most valuable part of my personal
study was looking at photography. I dutifully attended every opening at a gallery or
museum. I made a concerted effort to see every artist that exhibited. Even if I did not
react to the artists vision, I studied it closely and tried to understand the reason
for my response. This method was instrumental in the formation of my personal vision.
Students often ask, who my favorite photographers are.
Three come to mind (in order of preference) - Edward Weston, Paul Strand, and Irving Penn.
Brett Weston, Man Ray, Imogen Cunningham, Julia Margaret Cameron, and Frederick H. Evans
are artists I greatly admire and I am wonderfully moved by their work. Though I greatly
admire Ansel Adams and his enormous contribution to photography, he does not have the
extensive body of work that my favorites have accumulated. It is my considered opinion
that Ansel Adams will be remembered for his technical contributions and his undying
efforts to legitimize the art-form. Although, there is no one photographic artist other
than Alfred Steiglitz that did more to promote photography and make the viewing
public consider its artistic value. My current favorite contemporary photographers are
Michael Kenna and Tomio Seike.
The following is a 1940 quote that gives the reader, I
hope, some insight on why I chose Edward Weston as an inspiration for my work.
"In the thirty-eight years that have elapsed since
I made my first photographs with a 3½ x 3½ box camera, my photographic equipment and
technique have undergone various changes as my work and seeing evolved. Today I use an
8x10" camera with triple convertible anastigmatic lens. I print contact on glossy
paper. Aside from spotting dust specks or small scratches I do no hand-work on negative or
print. I do these things, not because I belong to any school, ist, or ism, but because
these are the best means I have found to carry out my seeing and retain maximum
photographic quality in my prints. To take full advantage of the unique potentials of the
photographic medium the photographer must be so familiar with the capacities of his tools
and processes that he can prevision his finished print before he makes his exposure. My
principle reason for using an 8x10" camera is that it makes composing a far easier
and more accurate job than it ever could be if I used a smaller camera and enlarged. Since
I can see my finished print full size on the ground glass and determine the composition
and values I want down to the last detail, I do not have to make duplicate negatives or
rely on afterthought to correct errors. (Of course I may make duplicates if the subject is
in motion, or decided in advance to trim if a subject does not fit my 8x10" frame.) I
use glossy paper because its light-reflecting surface reproduces more of the negative than
a dull-surface paper does. I do not know of any formal rules of composition, nor do I
recognize any boundaries to subject matter. Subject matter is everywhere: it may be an old
shoe, a cloud, or my own backyard. Whatever it is, its inherent qualities supply the rules
of composition for that particular subject, within the scope of the medium. I do not
attempt to copy nature or present factual records. I depart from literal rendering to
whatever extent is necessary for the presentation of my response to the subject . I
control each step of the photographic process, in order to carry out accurately my
original vision. I am not a technician and have no interest in technique for its own sake.
If my technique is adequate to present my seeing then I need nothing more."
Landscape and studio images are my preferred subject
matter. I have always been attracted to the landscape as a subject. As my vision has
refined, I have found that I am using longer lenses and am interested in details,
especially abstract ones. Death Valley has been a subject of mine for the past eight
years. As I look over the work done these past eight years, the horizon no longer appears
in the images and the subject matter is much more simple and abstract.
Photographing in a studio situation is a result of two
influences. As a commercial photographer in San Francisco there were many times that I
could not leave the city either because of time constraints or poverty. Fortunately, the
studio was always available and I would photograph people (friends) or objects just to
assuage my artistic urges. The second influence was Edward Weston. His photographs of
vegetables, shells, and excusado are so strong they have greatly impacted me. There never
should be an excuse for lack of subject matter. Something is always available.
It is my firm belief that photography is like any other
endeavor - the more you practice, the better you become. Photographing often and
faithfully accomplishes several important objectives. Using your camera, processing your
film and printing often and with consistency makes you more skilled technically. The
sooner a photographer feels at ease with the process, the less time he or she will have to
belabor the process thus free the mind for the creative aspects of the art form. The
technical skills, particularly the use of the camera, must be second nature. Ultimately,
the more one photographs the more images will be produced. As the accumulation process
continues, a body of work will come forth. The photographer must constantly evaluate the
work and select the images that he or she finds most attractive. As this selection process
proceeds a pattern emerges. This pattern is the basis for an arising vision.
The formats I utilize range from 35mm to an 11x14"
view camera. The 35mm camera I use is an F-4 Nikon. The optics are outstanding and the
focusing and metering leave nothing to be desired. I use Kodak T-Max 3200 in this format.
This allows me to hand-hold the camera and still have small apertures and moderate to high
shutter speeds. Though the film is somewhat grainy, I have enlarged the negatives to
16x20" and I find the results very satisfactory. I admit, though, the normal print is
5x7" or 8x10".
The medium format I use is the Hasselblad system. This is
my most frequently employed format. I am a committed Zone System advocate and Hasselblad
lends itself to that system extremely well. Having three backs allows me to separate the
exposed film by developing times. In addition, because of the new T-Grain films and the
finest optics available to photographers, enlarging to 20x24" with no evidence of
grain and superb local contrast is unconstrained. At this time I am using Agfapan 100 (APX
100) with Rodinal developer (highly diluted). This combination gives me the grain
structure and contrast I like for my prints.
My 4x5" is a 25 year-old Linhof Technica IV and I use
Rodenstock lenses. This is a rugged, durable, moderately light camera. Metal view cameras
suit my style. I find the rigidity and durability a real asset. My large format film of
choice is Tri-X. The developer I use is Clayton F-6 at moderate dilution (1:14).
My 8x10" camera is a 20 year-old Toyo Field 810M. This
is a real husky (read heavy) body and I never get further than 100 yards from my Jeep with
it. However, it is a wonderful piece of machinery and I wouldnt part with it for any
other camera. I find that I use a 450mm Nikkor most often with this format.
Recently, I have tested the new T-Grain Agfa and Ilford
large format films. Preliminary tests indicate that these are wonderful films and I may
make the shift to one or both of them. In addition, I have done some preliminary tests
with Tetenal Ultrafin Plus and have found it to be very fine grain film developer. I
anticipate that I will use it exclusively in the future.
For many years I used tray and sometimes the dip and dunk
method of film development. About two years ago I purchased a JOBO processor. Since that
time I have used nothing but my CPP-2 for all of my processing, everything from 35mm to
11x14". I use the Expert Drums for my large format films. The consistency and even
development that I derive from using the JOBO has made my negatives easy to print. The
constant agitation and precise temperature makes developing faultless every time. At the
risk of sounding condescending, I feel the investment in the JOBO system was one of the
most important I have made. There are two items I will never surrender - my Hasselblad and
my JOBO.
If you would like to personally contact me about my
photography or workshops I teach feel free to phone me at 408/655-4646 or fax 408/372-7112
. I am often on the road shooting but I will get back to you.
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A New Black & White Developer,
Kodak XTOL
By Paul Rowe
The last big waves in black and white were made by Kodak
when they introduced T-Max film and developers. Most of us would say the waves
havent subsided yet, but it has been about 10 years! Well dont think you can
relax; here comes another wave. It is a new film developer called XTOL (pronounced
"extol").
There are so many things to say about it, I will probably
sound like a commercial for Kodak, but bear with me (I wont list all the points).
This developer is a two part powder that mixes easily at room temperature. It has
excellent keeping properties, produces fine grain and high sharpness with good emulsion
speed. It is packaged in sizes to make 1 liter (Cat.#888-8182 ), 5 liters (Cat.#875-1752),
and 50 liters (Cat.#818-4517), and can be used as a full-strength mix, or in various
dilutions (there is more to say about dilutions later).
Before we go further, I must applaud Kodak. The
instructions for this developer come in three publications, J-106 for Replenished
Processing, J-107 for Small Tank and Tray Processing, and J-108 for Rotary Tube
Processors. (Note that you can get copies of these by calling the Kodak Information
line at 1-800-242-2424 or from Kodaks web page at www.kodak.com.) Other than any
of the chemistry distributed by JOBO, these and the T-Max instructions are the only times
I have seen any chemical manufacturer pay specific attention to rotary processing. In
addition, they list starting times with exposure indices and contrast indices for a range
of temperatures, and for films made by Ilford, Agfa, and Fuji, as well as the Kodak films.
Roll films and sheet films are covered, for both full strength developer, as well as for
dilutions of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3.
The first sample films and prints I saw were done by Dave
Belew. (Covered in a User Profile in JQ#7, summer 1995.) Dave processed Kodak TMX
in XTOL 1:1 using times which he had worked out for his setup. The prints are spectacular:
beautiful, grainless 8x10" prints with good shadow detail and no blocking of the
highlights. Daves enthusiastic comment was "Kodak may have finally done
it!!!" Recently I had a chance to see more of Daves work with Ilford HP-5 Plus
and XTOL. The results were just as remarkable as the TMX.
During the Fall of 1996 I found many retail stores did not
yet have the XTOL in stock, and some did not even know about it. I waited for a special
order to show up. This is mentioned only because you may have the same experience. Be
assured the Kodak supply centers have the product in stock, and your retailer will be able
to obtain it from them.
When I first embarked on this round of testing, I chose the
following films, all 135-36: Kodak Tri-X, TMX, and TMY, Ilford FP4+, HP5+, and Delta 100,
Agfa APX-100 and APX-400, and Fuji Neopan 100. These were exposed to a white background,
floodlight illumination, over an 8 f-stop range, all at the same exposure time,
with the exposure at f5.6 being the correct exposure for the EI of the film.
Exposures were made in a Nikon F-3, and processing was carried out in a JOBO ATL-2+ at
68º F, rotation speed 75 RPM.
PROCESSING WITH FULL STRENGTH DEVELOPER:
My first concern was to verify the Kodak information
printed in the Technical Bulletins. They give you a chart labeled "Time
Compensation", which is intended to be used with full strength developer. For the
purpose of this testing the developer was used one-shot and not replenished. The chart
says you can process up to 5 rolls of 135-36 in one liter of developer, which is 200ml per
roll. Users of rotary for the most part use developers on a one-shot basis, therefore I
made no attempt to go further with the developer by using either time compensation or
replenishment.
The first runs I processed were of each of the listed films
with 200 ml of undiluted developer (per Kodak's recommendations), and these results were
considered the standard against which later developer variations would be judged.
Since most JOBO film tanks will process with less than the
200ml per roll required by Kodak, the next tests were carried out at the JOBO tank
minimums, using quantities of 140ml in a #1510 tank. In these cases, with the Fuji Neopan
100, and the Agfapan 100 and 400 films listed, there were signs of under development. The
highest densities were low, and the film could not ever achieve the Contrast Index (CI)
stated by Kodak.
The Kodak and Ilford films were a different story. Using
140ml of XTOL full strength the results were comparable to development at 200ml. (In
making this comparison I considered a variation of 1/3 f-stop or less to be
acceptable.) Based upon these results it is safe to say that with Kodak and Ilford films
you can process, with full strength XTOL, at the stated solution quantities for the JOBO
tank being used.
The information in the paragraphs above poses some
problems for the rotary processor user, especially when using film other than Kodak or
Fuji. When you need 200ml per roll you alter the number of rolls a given tank can process
by a substantial margin. Remember that the quantity printed on a tank is the minimum
quantity required to cover the film on the reels. This minimum has nothing to do with the
amount the tank will hold or the amount of solution needed to properly process the film.
The following chart lists the film tanks, their maximum solution volume without draining
from the cog lid, and the number of rolls that can be accomplished using 200ml per roll of
full strength XTOL.
TANK # MAX. VOLUME # OF ROLLS
#2523 550 ml 2 rolls 135-36 or 120 in 400 ml./6 sheet 4x5
in 300 ml.
#2553 1400 ml 5 rolls 135-36 or 120 in 1000 ml./12 sheet
4x5 in 600 ml.
NOTE: Do not use over 1000ml in any manual processor !
#1510 170 ml UNUSABLE
#1520 270 ml 1 roll 135-36 or 120 in 240 ml
#1526 600 ml 3 rolls 135-36 or 120 in 600ml
Expert #3006 1000 ml 6 sheets 4x5 in 300 ml
Expert #3010 1000 ml 10 sheets 4x5 in 500 ml
Expert #3005 1000 ml 5 sheet 8x10 in 1000 ml
Note: If you are using a CPE-2 or 2+ Processor you should
limit yourself to the #2523, #1520, or #1526 tanks because of solution limitations. You
should not overload your motor with greater than the 600ml available in your bottles. Any
of the other processors can use any of the tanks specified above. In all cases it is
assumed that a JOBO Lift is used. If you are using magnet drive the tank capacities may be
slightly greater. You will need to do some testing yourself. The deciding factor on the
amount of film that can be processed is the requirement of 200ml of undiluted XTOL
developer for each 80 square inches of film to be processed. One roll 135-36, one roll
120, four sheets 4x5", or one sheet 8x10", each equal approximately 80 square
inches.
In each of the tests with full strength developer the Kodak
time yielded negatives very close to their stated aim points for density and contrast
index. Be sure you run tests in your own set-up to assure yourself the densities being
achieved are satisfactory for you. The published Kodak time is not cast in stoneit
is a starting time for you to use to perfect your process. Both time and temperature can
be changed to achieve desired results.
PROCESSING WITH DILUTE DEVELOPER:
The use of dilute developer in rotary processing has always
been a problem, mostly because users want to use as little developer as will cover the
film, and at the greatest dilution possible. Once this is accomplished we receive the
sample films at JOBO with questions as to why the density is so low, there is no shadow
detail, and on and on.
This miserly approach invites disaster. Those of you who
have read other articles of mine are going to say "There he goes again". You are
correct! There is nothing cheaper than chemical solutions when the cost is compared with a
re-shoot.
Any film requires a minimum amount of developer in order to
properly process. Less than the minimum amount yields thin negatives, lack of shadow
detail, and low D-max. Conversely, a greater than the minimum amount of solution, when
used at the same developing time, does not overdevelop the film.
With other developers I have worked with, the minimal
amount of developer has generally been less than the minimum amount stated on the JOBO
tanks. This means there is already a capacity of developer in excess of the minimum
required to develop the first roll. When the developer is diluted, say 1:1, additional
developer is needed to be sure that the film is developed properly. An example of this is
D-76, which is often used 1:1. Using D-76 full strength in a JOBO tank, may require 140ml
to cover the film (this is sufficient for thorough development). Going to D-76 1:1
requires a 50% increase in solution volume (approx. 210ml) in order to assure that there
is enough active chemical to properly process the film. Densitometry readings of the film
developed in full strength versus the film developed in 1:1 dilution with the increased
volume will yield equal curves. In this D-76 example the developing times would be 6:00
minutes for full strength and 8:00 minutes for the 1:1 dilution. The point, of course, is
that more process time is required with the dilute developer, in addition to the increased
volume of solution.
With Kodak, Ilford, and Fuji films, 1:1 dilutions presented
no problem when using 200ml (100ml XTOL/100ml water). When using the times shown by Kodak
the film reached proper density. I did not perform any tests at dilutions greater than
1:1.
With Agfa, and very possibly other films, dilute XTOL may
become a problem, especially in rotary processing. Requiring 200ml of full strength
developer per roll has already reduced the number of rolls that can be processed in most
JOBO tanks. Further, testing of XTOL at dilutions of 1:1 reduces further the number of
rolls that can be processed in a given tank. Processing at 1:1 with less than a 100%
increase in total solution quantity showed reduced D-max and lower densities. It was not
until I was processing one roll of film in 200ml full strength developer plus 200ml of
water that the densities of the roll were approaching the process in full strength
developer alone.
To determine the quantity of Agfa (and any other non-Kodak,
Ilford, or Fuji) film that may be processed at 1:1 dilution, the easiest move is to
refer to the chart in the first part of this article. For roll films, cut the quantity of
film in half, being sure that you have 400ml of solution for each roll of film. For sheet
films, double the solution quantity as long as the total quantity remains less than
maximum volume. If it appears you would need to exceed the maximum volume listed, then
just halve the quantity of film. It is easy to see that even at 1:1 dilution it may be
impractical to try and process any quantity of film. At 1:2 or 1:3 dilutions it is
hopeless when given the volume restrictions in rotary processing. Bear in mind however,
that manual inversion processing in a film tank automatically allows you to use a greater
volume of solution, and therefore increases the number of films that can be done in that
tank. Naturally, a deep tank set-up (sink line or dip and dunk) does not suffer from these
volume restrictions.
One last observation for you. If you intend to try XTOL at
1:1 or greater dilution you should test for yourself to be sure that Kodaks
suggested times yield satisfactory results for you. Also, test for developer quantity,
since you may find that results at less than the 400ml (200ml full strength / 200ml water)
will work for you. Time constraints prevented me from carrying this testing further, but a
little additional developer time at the 1:1 dilution could bring the densities up.
PREWET ?
For years now JOBO has suggested that black and white films
undergo a five minute prewet prior to the introduction of developer. Using a prewet before
the XTOL developer resulted in lower D-max than when the developer was used
without a prewet. The only conclusion we can draw is that a
prewet is NOT indicated with XTOL! Your results will be more consistent without
prewet.
CONCLUSIONS:
In a perfect world all of this report would be backed up by
quantified densitometry in which the differences were exact and the suggestions I have
made would be obvious to all, even if an H & D curve was considered a French aperitif.
Well it just isnt so. Some films responded differently than others. As a generality,
T-grain and other advanced technology films, like Delta, responded differently than the
older emulsions. The suggestions I am making are safe, and will work. Depending on your
film, you may find that I am all wet, and you can use dilute developer and not need to
maintain the 200ml of full strength developer. This will depend on your film, exposure,
and the parameters of acceptability only you can establish for yourself.
XTOL is a beautiful developer. Both the negatives and the
resulting prints can take you to another level of perfection, but like so many things new,
it needs to be learned (read: tested).
Kodak has really given us a new jewel, and again I want to
thank them for it. The instructions for rotary processing would be better if they made
reference to the chemical quantity when using XTOL in diluted form, but dont let
this dissuade you from enjoying it. Remember, the time suggestions made by Kodak are
starting points. If you hold only to them you may never know what the film/developer can
really do.
Other products and companies referred to herein are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.
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Come In Out of the FOG
By Ken Owen
I'd like to shed some light on a frequent problem -- film
and paper fogging. Light fog comes from a variety of sources. Occasionally someone will
take the light trap apart on their film tank, and put the funnel back in upside down. When
that happens, the tip of the funnel does not reach into the center core of the tank, and
then the light just pours into the tank and fogs the film.
Similarly, if you fail to use the center cores, you again
have no light trap, and the film is ruined.
Some customers will ask what color to paint their darkroom.
Actually, the color will not matter at all if there is no light; without light there is no
color. Painting the room matte black will help if you must live with some minor light
leaks. The flat black will absorb most, but not quite all of the light. However, it is
much better to eliminate all sources of light before they cause you trouble.
Around the door frame is a fairly common source of light. I
solved it in my darkroom in three steps. First I put in a raised door sill on the floor.
Then, on the inside of my door I attached strips of 1/4" x 1-1/2" wood with
1/4" overlapping the edge of the door, thus covering the gap around the door. Then,
in the middle of the door hinges I placed some 3/8" weatherseal foam strips. The
combination of these items eliminated all leaks around the door.
The most insidious light problem comes from the electronic
gadgets we all use in the darkroom. This can be a digital timer or analyzer, a pilot light
on a print dryer or processor thermostat, or some indicator on a telephone or radio used
in the darkroom. Most of us take the little red indicator LEDs on various electronic
devices for granted. Dont, they are a remarkably powerful source of light.
Several years ago we had a customer complain that his film
was being "fogged by chemicals". We were rather confused by his statement. When
we asked him to clarify it further, he told us that on his 4x5" sheets of E-6 film,
he could see the shadow of the 2509N reel he was using, and since he knew that his
darkroom had absolutely no light leaks, it must be coming from the chemicals in the tank.
I happened to be traveling in his area, so I visited his
studio and darkroom. I asked him to place the film loader and reel in the position where
he always loaded the film. That turned out to be on the baseboard of his enlarger. I
inserted some of the fogged sheets of film into the reel and lined up the shadows with the
parts of the reel that caused the shadows. Then instantly I could tell what caused the
problem. In the corner of the ceiling, about 10 feet away, I saw an infrared detector
which was part of his security system. If you moved your body, a single red LED would
illuminate for a matter of seconds. We covered up the red LED with black photo tape, and
he never had the problem again.
On another occasion, one customer asked us if the light
coming from under his furnace might fog the film. His darkroom was simply a corner of his
basement, and he shared space with the furnace. Of course we advised him to partition the
basement to block off the illumination of the gas flames that warmed his home. The light
pouring out from under the furnace would have been a big trouble-maker.
The simplest rule of thumb in determining if you have a
light leak is to go into the dark for about 10 minutes to let your eyes adjust completely.
Then look around. If you see any light, then it is too much light. In normal darkroom
operation, by the time your eyes can see light, film has already been ruined.
Dont use too much "glow tape". This
phosphorescent tape is handy to place next to a light switch or door knob, but use only
tiny little pieces. You dont need enough to illuminate the room, just enough to know
where the knob or switch is located.
We all tend to take our darkrooms for granted. Once we get
them "good enough" to work in, we rarely make structural improvements. Why
dont you stop right now, and go check your darkroom for light leaks? It will be ten
minutes well spent. Make your darkroom completely light tight, and increase your
confidence in your work space and the work you do in it at the same time.
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Regarding Water Quality
By Damon Dean
This article addresses a flood of water-quality problems.
"Bad" water problems are the most common and most
easily cured of all processing related problems.
Any darkroom chemical works in water. If the water used is
not pure, and particle free, there can be problems with performance and consistency.
Unfortunately, more and more parts of the world are experiencing more and more problems
both with quality and consistency of the "drinking" water supplies.
Essentially the things you need to know about the water you
are using are; pH (acid/alkali), "softness" (calcium/iron content), suspended
matter (dirt), and any unusual dissolved material (chemical/biological). It may be useful
to have a sample from your water supply checked out by whatever (governmental) authority
supplies or controls drinking water in your area. It probably would be good to do a test
every few months, to see if the water conditions change seasonally, or more often.
If you suspect that your water is less than optimum for
photo use, you may want to take corrective measures by treating the water with softening,
filtering or other procedures as necessary. If you dont know specifically what may
need to be done, check with local photo labs and ask what they are doing for similar
problems. The governmental authorities may also be able to head you in the right
direction.
Essentially, the common cures for common problems are;
softening "hard" water, filtering to remove most all dissolved solid materials
and common dissolved minerals, metals and hydrocarbons (oil).
What I use, and recommend for marginal water (that does not
have any exotic problems as well) is an industrial sized, combination 5 micron (filter
particle size) and activated charcoal (for dissolved stuff) filter. In most cases, this is
sufficient to remove the objectionable stuff from the water.
If you have other problems with bad water, talk to a
specialist in water treatment for the most effective cure.
The other solution is to replace the water supply with
bottled or distilled water. If you get bottled water, be sure that it does not have any
additives (bubbles, soda, or flavoring). Distilled water is your safest bet.
The most important chemicals to mix with distilled water
are developers. They are usually the most sensitive to the condition of the water. If your
water is "hard", mixing a wetting agent or stabilizer with distilled water will
help with spot free drying. Some people mix all their chemicals with distilled water. If
your water is bad it may be worthwhile to do this too. If it is not practical to buy
distilled water, you could get a still, and make it yourself, although this could get
costly.
Some photo-chemical manufacturers may not recommend using
distilled water for the mixing of some of their chemicals. However, the benefits of having
a good quality water to work with, (distilled) versus, not using distilled when you
have bad water outweigh the fairly niggling difference that distilled water would
make to the mix.
Another system that will produce fairly unlimited amounts
of essentially pure, but not pH adjusted water is "reverse osmosis". It is not
inexpensive, but with a lot of use, may prove an economical alternative.
To recap, good water is very important. If you think a
problem with processing is caused by bad water, try a test with distilled water to see if
it improves. If it does, examine filtering alternatives, or the practicality of buying
good water.
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