C41 color development issues

Rudeofus · May 25, 2016

Unprocessed color film has a yellow filter layer somewhere in between, which is commonly realized with colloidal silver. AFAIK this colloidal silver looks exactly like that brown milky stuff we see in the bottom image posted by SuXarik.

SuXarik could test that bleach composition very easily:

take a short test clip of unprocessed color film, fresh or old doesn't matter.
run this test clip through bleach and fixer cycle, wash
If the resulting clip looks mostly transparent (with orange mask, of course), then bleach&fixer are fine
If the resulting clip looks brown and dense, bleach didn't work

SuXarik · May 25, 2016

Rudeofus said:
Unprocessed color film has a yellow filter layer somewhere in between, which is commonly realized with colloidal silver. AFAIK this colloidal silver looks exactly like that brown milky stuff we see in the bottom image posted by SuXarik.

SuXarik could test that bleach composition very easily:

take a short test clip of unprocessed color film, fresh or old doesn't matter.

run this test clip through bleach and fixer cycle, wash

If the resulting clip looks mostly transparent (with orange mask, of course), then bleach&fixer are fine

If the resulting clip looks brown and dense, bleach didn't work

Are You sure bleach can cause this, because I've done a few bleach bypass development for fun and it was OK.
Tried different film today. Same result so I believe it's my developer. (or bleach may be)

Just for test I take a small clip as You're all advised me to. Then I developed it,then bleached, then just take a look at it (I believe it's ok, since after bleaching film is no longer light sensitive, or am I wrong?)

Photo Engineer · May 25, 2016

You have to fix as well, not just bleach.

And, just try a clip test of film in developer in daylight. You should see it blacken.

PE

Rudeofus · May 25, 2016

SuXarik said:
Are You sure bleach can cause this, because I've done a few bleach bypass development for fun and it was OK.
Tried different film today. Same result so I believe it's my developer. (or bleach may be)

Just for test I take a small clip as You're all advised me to. Then I developed it,then bleached, then just take a look at it (I believe it's ok, since after bleaching film is no longer light sensitive, or am I wrong?)

I am not sure it is your bleach, and you have not reported anything so far which would allow such a decision. It would be a good thing for you if it was a bleach issue, because poor bleaching can be corrected, whereas poor color development means your negs are gone for good.

As PE and I recommended, bleach AND fix a test clip. If you see orange mask, your bleach and fix works and you need to replace your color developer. If that test clip comes out denser than what you expect from orange mask, or milky, then you need to rework your bleach and/or fixer.

SuXarik · May 25, 2016

Photo Engineer said:
You have to fix as well, not just bleach.

And, just try a clip test of film in developer in daylight. You should see it blacken.

PE

Done that, it come out green, not so bright as in my previous post but still.

Photo Engineer · May 25, 2016

One side should be a bit orange and the other green if developed in full daylight. After bleach, wash, fix and wash, it should be nearly black with a slight orange cast. If it is not, it is the developer. Either it is contaminated or bad.

PE

C41 color development issues

Rudeofus

SuXarik

Photo Engineer

Rudeofus

SuXarik

Photo Engineer

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