Acros 100 development issues

robert.raymer · Sep 21, 2016

Has anyone else had issues with developing Fuji Acros Neopan 100 only to end up with a completely blank roll?

I recently bought a brick of Acros 100 and have had this issue with each of the 4 rolls I have developed so far. The film was shot appropriately and developed according to the massive dev chart, following all times and temperatures for ilfosol 3, and after taking the film out there was literally no emulsion anywhere on the film. Initially I thought that I had simply horribly underexposed everything, but there was not even any emulsion in between frames or on the rebate. The last roll I developed the only emulsion anywhere on the roll was under the tape I left on the end of the roll where the film had no contact with the chemicals.

Has anyone else had issues with this or any idea what could cause it?

FWIW I am no expert, but I am certainly not new to developing film, though this is my first time shooting with/developing Acros 100.

Dali · Sep 21, 2016

Not even frame numbers?

Andrew O'Neill · Sep 21, 2016

What do you mean by "no emulsion"?

Svenedin · Sep 21, 2016

If there are frame numbers and markings to say what type of film it is but absolutely nothing else then it has been developed properly and fixed properly but not exposed at all. There should be a black leader though even if your camera has not exposed the film (if 35mm). Have you got your fix and dev round the wrong way and fixed the film before the development? Or is has your developer gone off? You can test your developer easily by taking a scrap of film and developing in the light. It should go black in the time expected.

robert.raymer · Sep 21, 2016

No frame numbers, no rebate, nothing. The only emulsion left was what was under the tape and unexposed to chemicals during the development. Otherwise it was just perfectly clear celluloid. Not even the faintest hint of an image. As I said I am experienced with developing, and have developed every other type of film I shoot recently using the same chemistry, so that is not the issue either.

pdeeh · Sep 21, 2016

it's not the film. it'll be something you've done.

chriscrawfordphoto · Sep 21, 2016

If there's no frame numbers, then Svenedin is right, you used the fixer first.

MattKing · Sep 21, 2016

chriscrawfordphoto said:
If there's no frame numbers, then Svenedin is right, you used the fixer first.

Or your developer isn't functioning at all.
Or you never actually used any developer - the dreaded "pre-soak, stop bath, fixer, HCA, wash" workflow.

bvy · Sep 21, 2016

No film is that unforgiving. Not even Acros, which I have a love/hate relationship with. Did you clip test your developer first?

Rick A · Sep 21, 2016

The Op either skipped the developer, developer was dead, or fixed first. No other explanation. If rebate markings were present, then it's an exposure issue, nothing present, developing issue.

dpurdy · Sep 21, 2016

Rick A said:
The Op either skipped the developer, developer was dead, or fixed first. No other explanation. If rebate markings were present, then it's an exposure issue, nothing present, developing issue.

Yup..

newtorf · Sep 21, 2016

sounds like the developer was dead. it happened to me once.

chip j · Sep 21, 2016

I once used some Efke FB paper that had no image on either side (fresh dev).

Svenedin · Sep 22, 2016

Either the developer is totally dead, somehow missed out or the film was fixed before dev. "Clearly" your fix works fine (there is a weak pun there). Test your developer on a piece of unprocessed film in the light. I cut off the piece of 120 with the tape on it. Take the tape off and use that.

Possible reasons for dead dev are: too old, exhausted from too much re-use or contaminated with fix. If re-using chemistry there is a risk of pouring fix into the dev bottle. I use dev one-shot to avoid that possibility.

Rudeofus · Sep 22, 2016

Robert, you indicate that there is emulsion left under that sticky tape, where developer and/or fixer couldn't reach the emulsion. Can you describe in some detail (ideally with pictures), how this manifests itself?

Also, since you suspect that the emulsion comes off completely, you could easily verify this in broad light: take a short test clip, develop/stop/fix, check, whether emulsion washes off in each step. Also check whether developer blackens film. This should help you pin down the issue fairly fast.

PS: Ilfosol 3 is a standard, run off the mill, Phenidone-Hydroquinone developer, which shouldn't go bad on a whim, and definitely not without ample visible warning.

Rick A · Sep 22, 2016

[after taking the film out there was literally no emulsion anywhere on the film. Initially I thought that I had simply horribly underexposed everything, but there was not even any emulsion in between frames or on the rebate. The last roll I developed the only emulsion anywhere on the roll was under the tape I left on the end of the roll where the film had no contact with the chemicals.]

Are you sure there was no emulsion? If this were true, you developed in extremely hot temps, melting the emulsion off. Or, are you confusing zero development with "no emulsion"?

Leigh B · Sep 24, 2016

I too would like a clear explanation of "no emulsion" (sorry for the pun).

The only thing I know of that can completely remove the emulsion is extremely hot liquid (water or whatever).

That happened to me once in a final rinse, when someone had shut off the cold water line due to a water leak.

- Leigh

flavio81 · Sep 24, 2016

Svenedin said:
"Clearly" your fix works fine (there is a weak pun there).

pentaxuser · Sep 24, 2016

The OP has made no further comments since seeing our replies but I am not sure that I have understood what he has said exactly

It sounds as if he has no markings of any kind on any of his 4 rolls which suggests using fixer first in each case. Unless all four films were processed on the same night then making the same mistake on four different occasions seems unusual, especially if he has experience of processing which he seems to have had.

Can I ask that the OP tells us what happened on each processing occasion and what he did on each subsequent occasion in an attempt to eliminate his problem? Unless we can "drill down" to his actions then we are doomed to "sail the seven seas" forever in this thread like the Flying Dutchman

pentaxuser

Leigh B · Sep 25, 2016

Robert Raymer...

I just noticed you're in Maryland. Where?

I'm in College Park.

I could come over and look at your negatives and your process, and possibly make some suggestions.

- Leigh

Leigh B · Sep 25, 2016

pentaxuser said:
The OP has made no further comments since seeing our replies...

It's always possible he made a stupid mistake, realized it from reading our replies, and doesn't want to admit it.

- Leigh

MattKing · Sep 25, 2016

Leigh B said:
It's always possible he made a stupid mistake, realized it from reading our replies, and doesn't want to admit it.

- Leigh

If so, he should join back in, so we can refer him to those various threads where we each describe the various mistakes we have each made.

Old-N-Feeble · Sep 25, 2016

I never make miskates.

Thomas Bertilsson · Sep 25, 2016

Old-N-Feeble said:
I never make miskates.

Me niether.

Thomas Bertilsson · Sep 25, 2016

MattKing said:
If so, he should join back in, so we can refer him to those various threads where we each describe the various mistakes we have each made.

Yep. Lots of mistakes here. I got the clear roll with edge marking a few years back. I was using a Fuji 645i rangefinder and left the lens cap on the whole time. That was painful.

Acros 100 development issues

robert.raymer

Dali

Andrew O'Neill

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Svenedin

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MattKing

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Rick A

dpurdy

newtorf

chip j

Svenedin

Rudeofus

Rick A

Leigh B

flavio81

pentaxuser

Leigh B

Leigh B

MattKing

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Old-N-Feeble

Thomas Bertilsson

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Acros 100 development issues

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