emulsion rubbed off film

jacnorectangle · Oct 9, 2015

Today I developed 4x5 Portra using the taco method in a Paterson tank with Flexicolor chemistry and the corners on 2 of the sheets are rubbed off. This happened with the previous roll of film. That roll was from a camera that had been dropped in the mud so I assumed that's what had caused it. But the other roll that I developed with it at the same time didn't have the issue. Anyone ever seen this happen before?

BAC1967 · Oct 9, 2015

I've had that happen. When I hang it to dry sometimes the clip will rub some emulsion off. It's probably because it twisted in the clip while it was still wet. It looks like that may have been what you did or was it there before you clipped it up to dry?

jacnorectangle · Oct 9, 2015

BAC1967 said:
I've had that happen. When I hang it to dry sometimes the clip will rub some emulsion off. It's probably because it twisted in the clip while it was still wet. It looks like that may have been what you did or was it there before you clipped it up to dry?

No it was there before I hung it up to dry.

Dennis S · Oct 9, 2015

With the taco method you are getting one end/side of the film into contact with the other which are prone to damage created by agitation movements. I gave up that method when I had trouble getting the negatives flat after development.

jacnorectangle · Oct 9, 2015

dances_w_clouds said:
With the taco method you are getting one end/side of the film into contact with the other which are prone to damage created by agitation movements. I gave up that method when I had trouble getting the negatives flat after development.

I did the taco method several years ago and nothing was rubbed off.

pdeeh · Oct 10, 2015

Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't.
try changing the size of the scrunchies (or whatever you are using to hold the sheets doubled) so that they edges don't touch (this is difficult but not impossible)
the inherent delicacy of the emulsion layers and the vigour of agitation will also be key components. you can control the latter but not the former.
if it's essential to you that even the outermost edges of the film remain perfect, then you might need to change your development method - perhaps buy a MOD54, or perhaps develop your films one at a time in trays (although the latter would be a proper challenge as you appear to be using colour negative films)

Sirius Glass · Oct 10, 2015

Some clips can nick, chip or make a hole in the negative.

emulsion rubbed off film

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