C-41 film developing mistakes inquiry help

Hi!

I got my film developed yesterday from a lab and today while I was scanning the negatives I noticed these marks on the photographs (I am attaching photos), I was wondering whether someone could enlighten me on this. I´m not sure if it´s related to the developing or the scanning.

Thank you!

Those look like "Newton's Rings" - an interference pattern. If that is it, then it's the scanning.

Are you laying the negative against the platen glass of the scanner, or are they otherwise touching it (perhaps you do have a holder but the negatives are bowed in the middle and touch the glass)? That is usually what causes it.

If you have a negative career/holder for the scanner try using that. If not, try some cardboard or something at the edges of the negatives to hold them off the glass - you can cut "masks" out of cardboard or some material to do this. You would put the "mask" on the glass, and the negative on top of it.

A homemade mask/carrier may not be a practical solution, but can help determine whether that is in fact the issue.

Hi Truzi,

Thank you so much for your reply. The negative was indeed bowed. I will try your suggestions.

If you are using a negative carrier for your scanner but the center of the bowed negative still touches the glass, try flipping the negative around so it bows up. Since your scanning it, you can always flip the image with software.

A very simple rule of thumb with negatives (or glossy prints) is, shiny side meets shiny surface = problems.

You have got some great advice from the contributors above.