Anyone know what causes this?!

[Ethan Knightchilde]

I recently bought a a Standard 8mm sound copy of The General but will need to return it despite the bargain price.

I’ve only seen this once or twice before, but does anyone know what actually causes this on a film print?

[Edward Nicielnik]

Looks like mold it could have been stored in a hot climate

[Ethan Knightchilde]

Found out that it is redox.

Here is a link to an article that talks about it:
https://www.filmcare.org/vd_redoxblemishes.php

[Ethan Knightchilde]

Film was never inexpensive. It’s sad to think anyone would treat a print so carelessly. (Let’s not talk about some people never cleaning the film gate or path and the resulting scratches…)

[Douglas Meltzer]

Ethan,

In the past we've had threads about orange spots & brown splotches that were caused by labs rushing the fixing & washing of prints during the developing process.

Orange 1
Orange 2

[Brian Fretwell]

Yes I had that trouble with some home developed still photo negatives and prints when I over used the fixer, many years ago before I got carefull.

[Philip Hamilton]

It's what Douglas said - I call it emulsion rot. I HATE to find this on a print.

[Ethan Knightchilde]

Ethan,

In the past we've had threads about orange spots & brown splotches that were caused by labs rushing the fixing & washing of prints during the developing process.

Orange 1
Orange 2

I saw a print with that once. It came and went and wasn’t nearly as bad as this one. This print is in sad shape.

[Bryan Chernick]

I did that with some darkroom photo prints. Not enough rinse after the fix. Some of the fix chemistry is left behind that causes it. it takes a few years to show.

[Steve Klare]

I'm sure it was possible everywhere, but I've only seen it on Blackhawk prints.

Sometimes I get the impression that in their best years, business was almost too good, and the pace became a little hectic!

Perfect or not, they contributed a lot of great films to our collections even to this day.

[Douglas Meltzer]

I've had it happen to a couple of Castle and Ken cutdowns, along with feature prints of Ghost of Frankenstein and Casablanca.