Do you also have trouble flattening Kodak Gold 120 film with books?

[Certain Exposures]

I left some under a pile of books for ages and the film refused to flatten itself enough that I could avoid getting newton rings in the scans. It curls back up as if the material has 'memory'. I may switch to a different, flatter drying color film (if any exist) once I run through my stash because of the curling and the limiting ISO.

The Epson v850 medium format film holders could be a lot better!

*Edit: ages means a few weeks.

 

[Sanug]

Switch to Lucky Color C200. It is flat directly after drying. The colour rendering is similiar to Kodak, the grain even finer.

Top: Kodak Gold
Bottom: Lucky Color C200

 

[Chrismat]

I may have to try Lucky 120 film. I like Kodak Gold, but the way it curls and stays curled after weighing it down for weeks is very frustrating.

 

[gbroadbridge]

The curl problem, in my experience, occurs when drying.

If you dry with heated air while holding the film taut it dries without curl.

I use a heated air blower and weight the end of the film

 

[mshchem]

I've had the same issue. My drying technique hasn't been altered in 40 years. Hang, air dry in climate controlled house, weighted metal clip on bottom.

Seems manageable, but it's aggravating. Maybe EK hasn't worked out current coating technique with PET base changes. EK has been coating color and black and white on Estar base polyester since the 50's so it's possible that this is just a change in their specification for film flatness????

Speculation on my part, it's a real thing.

It definitely improves in Printfile sleeves under a notebook.

 

[MattKing]

EK has been coating color and black and white on Estar base polyester since the 50's

Roll film on Estar since the 1950s?????

 

[mshchem]

Roll film on Estar since the 1950s?????

Not 120, 70mm etc etc. I should have said rolls of film.
All I know is the latest 120 films from Kodak are so curled that you NEED to use a Printfile or some contraption to hold 3 or 4 strips flat to make contact proof sheets. Pain in the &ss!

 

[mshchem]

My theory is that the specification for flatness must be different, or there's been a change or elimination of an anti-curl ingredient. Something is different, it ain't a shift in the Earth's gravity!

 

[gbroadbridge]

Not 120, 70mm etc etc. I should have said rolls of film.
All I know is the latest 120 films from Kodak are so curled that you NEED to use a Printfile or some contraption to hold 3 or 4 strips flat to make contact proof sheets. Pain in the &ss!

But mine dries flat - no curl.

 

[mshchem]

But mine dries flat - no curl.

Well sure you're inverted .
Maybe is a batch of curly PET base. I don't know.

I'm sure I have 100 rolls in my refrigerator going back 15 years I guarantee you that it's not acting like what I've seen lately.

It is what it is. I can live with it.

Most people have a lab develop, scan (maybe print) and have their films sleeved and returned, gently coiled in a corrugated paper box. In this state curl isn't an Issue.

Post #2 photo is what I've seen.

I use Jobo 1500 reels (spirals) I don't think that's the issue.

Believe it or not, that's up to you.

(PS, From now on Roll film is any film with paper backing on a spool or in a plastic cartridge)

 

[mshchem]

Switch to Lucky Color C200. It is flat directly after drying. The colour rendering is similiar to Kodak, the grain even finer.

Top: Kodak Gold
Bottom: Lucky Color C200

View attachment 423246

I'm not buying film from Lucky. Some people here on the forum who live in Canada won't buy US made photo products because of the situation.

 

[mshchem]

Besides I shoot Ektacolor 160 and 400. And Ektar. Don't really use much Gold.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I'm not buying film from Lucky. Some people here on the forum who live in Canada won't buy US made photo products because of the situation.

I guess Lucky would be an expensive cheap film - bad luck really

 

[mshchem]

I guess Lucky would be an expensive cheap film - bad luck really

I'm sure I'll be tempted to try Lucky at some point.
I've always used Eastman color negative films. Still camera films.Going back to Ektacolor-S (C-22), then Vericolor, then Portra NC, then Portra and now its Ektacolor 160 and 400. All these films produced fabulous results with electronic flash and/or daylight.
Kodacolor-X yielded amazing pictures with a flashcube (and genuine Kodak processing) I sent my films to the Kodak lab in Chicago Illinois. I think it was on Prarie Avenue??