Spotting Your Prints - including some tips to make it easier.

Anyone who prints in the darkroom will need to spot their work. Those little white dust spots get on those beautiful prints regardless of what you do to keep them at bay. In today's video we look at how to spot those prints the easy way.

Bonus, it's quite relaxing :)

John

[randallstewart]

I have been using Spotone dyes for about 60 years. One of those bottles lasts for years unless you are doing this regularly. One thing I learned early on was that if you get a mix of colors which matches you normal print color, you can save the leftover dye mix, even let it dry out, and it will reconstitute when you add a little water later. I kept my on-going dye mix in a covered shot glass, just the right size to use with a heavy base and didn't take any room to store. The key is to build up the density in several applications. There usually is a bit of dry down making it look a bit darker. It's easier to do than to describe. As for removing black or dark spots, I never was successful using a knife to shave off the emulsion density. you can always see the shaved emulsion area. I found that a slow bleach solution, also sold at the time by Spotone, will take down the black spot to a lighter tone, which you then build back with dye as needed. Not needed very often.

[shadystrolls]

Watching this video is like listening to a visual song of some sort. Very satisfying.

[lowe_h_seger]

Hi John, I hope you are well. Did you ever do a video on black spots, I am trying to find it. Otherwise, that could be the next in line.

[robcanis]

Some great tips there, John. I use the upside down trick when processing my images on the computer to analyse tonal balance.

[ChrisVidouras]

Thank you for another wonderful and very educating video.

[bobhall]

Great video - thanks. The almost-dry brush, as you point out, is crucial to avoid the “big dollops” (which then have to be knifed out😂) Another mistake I made after learning to use a dry brush was to use a strong magnifier for spotting and I found myself almost trying to spot out the grain in the image! Thanks again for this. It’s a tremendously valuable video series.

[amandas]

I feel like things go from too light to too dark without ever actually reaching the blending in state in between.

Maybe I should try, when possible, to spot a day or two apart--or even just a few hours apart. I think sometimes I can't see the forest for the trees. I also tend to get my face right up to the print. That's how I look at all art. But I notice in art museums, normal people don't stand so close to images, sculptures, paintings...

In sewing, it's better to use a slightly darker thread than a slightly lighter one. The darker one blends into the fabric and the lighter one reflects light. I''m thinking in spotting, it might be better to have a spot just a smidge lighter than a smidge darker.

[chainsaw]

I've been looking for a good tutorial on spotting like this for a while now, photography classes at *two* colleges in the US and one didn't have us learn to spot at all and the other just told us to use spotting pens (that I've not been able to find)

Thank you!

[klofisch]

mmh does the paper not scratch the photo? i would put some fine linen under the paper. Thanks for sharing!

[jph]

Dear John, in the beginning of this video you refer to selenium toning possibly requiring more colours to match. I guess spotting before the toning may not be an alternative as the dye may respond differently to the toning than the print itself? I am in particular doing archival toning.

[epstar]

Nice video! Curious if the spotting dye works on RC papers?

[faraz]

i heard that Kenna uses steam to help absorb the dye into the emulsion, but that does not work for me. On darker areas its hard to avoid the spot being visible, at least on gloss paper, since it does not have the same glossiness. I've tried mixing with Gum Arabic, this helps a little. Any tips to get the spot to completely blend in?

[cardboardmusic]

The problem is to find Marshall's spot-all kits, maybe you have some other suggestions (anyone)? BTW, I'm in Europe, not in the UK, so any other product names could be useful too.

Thanks in advance.