printing problem

[keith7]

i'm using 35mm film. when i get my pics developed i've noticed tiny white dots on my photos.just the odd 1 or 2 and not on every pic.they are not always in the same place. i've tried different film and different developers but they are still there. i cant see them on the negs. i've cleaned the lens and blow the inside of the camera before putting the film in. any ideas please.

[Steven M. Anthony]

Are you developing your film and/or prints yourself? Or when you say you have tried different developers, do you me different photo labs? If you meant labs, are they all the same type/quality of lab? If they are all using the same machine for printing, they might all suffer from the same problem.

[stopbath]

What are the 'tiny white dots' like?
Are they tiny white circles? Or are they irregular. What size are they? Do they look like fibres? Do they looks like dirt?

Since they are white. This would indicate that the spots are created during the printing cycle as the light blockage on the negative would result in black on the print, not white. So the camera and your lenses are not at fault.

Next time, do not leave the lab when picking up the pictures. Examine them there, and have them examine and redo any pictures they need to.

Also, are you getting your images developed "rush" basis? Here time is deemed more important than quality images.

[Steven M. Anthony]

2 ways (at least) to get a white spots on a print: dust/debris on the negative or dust on the paper while paper is exposed to light. If the edges of the spots are razor sharp, they are probably due to debris on the paper--effectively making a contact print of its shape on the paper.