FOMA B&W materials

[poutnik]

I didn't try yet. But in fact it may not affect the film, since it's coated on PET base. It seem the only way to dry flat.

I don't know why I'd do that.

The Foma sheet film I have used - the 100 - dries perfectly flat (I hang it by one edge with a clothes peg). The roll films (the 100 and 400) also dry flat, I hang them from a clothes line attached with 2 pegs at the top and another 1 or 2 at the bottom as a weight. When I cut the film when dry, I don't have any problem with any curl at all... Much easier and less prone to damage of film IMO...

 

[Aurelien]

Yes, but I, when I dry it following the same method as you, it is very curly. But only in 120 format. Not in 135.

 

[poutnik]

Strange (and funny), must be some chemicals dissoluted in water or whatever...

 

[jlehmus]

As per srs5694, you will have to test yourself.

As a hint, my best results so far have been with this film shot at EI 250 or EI 320, developed in R09 1:40 (don't remember the time and don't have the notes at hand). I have also shot this also at EI 1600 (and developed accordingly longer), but will not do that again

Fomapan 400 definitely needs to be overexposed approximately one stop. I'm developing it in stock strength XTOL, re-used in a five liter container, non-replenished, good for fifty rolls of 135 if you process them within a couple of months.

 

[Fotohuis]

From the Fomapan 400 specs:
*************************************************
Base
The following bases are used for manufacturing the particular sorts of the film:
-120 rollfilm -a bluish polyester base 0.1 mm thick, furnished with a matted colour
backing which will decolourize during processing. The backing has anti-halation
and anti-curling properties and prevents the incidence of Newton rings during
enlarging.
-35 mm film -a gray or gray-blue cellulose triacetate base 0.125 mm thick.

( http://www.foma.cz/Upload/foma/prilohy/F_pan_400_en.pdf )

*************************************************


That means the 120 roll film will always have more curl due to the polyester material. However the curling of this film is depending on the type of wetting agent and the drying conditions of the film. The relative humidity is an important factor and I am sure this one will be (normally) very low in Limoges (France) and much higher in Brno (Czech Republic). 50-70% rel. humidity will dry a Fomapan film in about 2-3 hours at room temperature. After 12 hours I put them in the sleeves and they are then pretty flat after being some time in the map.

Heating up any films above 40-45 degrees C. is not a good idea.

Best regards,

Robert

 

[Aurelien]

IN fact that is the way a professional lab told me to dry these films. But I never tried. A bit worry

 

[Fotohuis]

Fomapan 400 definitely needs to be overexposed

Reading from the same Fomapan 400 spec you can see that even in Microphen (Ilford speed enhanced developer) the film will hardly reach an E.I. of 320. (C.I. is then already 0,8 !!)

According our measurements the right E.I. for Rodinal or Fomadon R09 with this film is indeed an extra full F stop.

Best regards,

Robert

 

[Fotohuis]

IN fact that is the way a professional lab told me to dry these films

These labs are working with C41 and E6 films developed on 38 degrees C in the whole process and they are drying in a cabinet around 45 degrees C. 5 minutes later they're put in the printing machine

Developing a B&W film on 20 degrees C processing and drying on 70 degrees C will damage the film definitely.