Foma Retropan 320 issue

technopoptart · Jan 26, 2021

I just got a 120 roll of forma retro 320 back from richard photo lab, and its the first film i have seen with an opaque base. it looks frosted like a ground glass screen instert. Is this normal for this film?

chris77 · Jan 27, 2021

Can you post a picture?

Donald Qualls · Jan 27, 2021

I'll go out on a limb and say "no" -- a frosted-looking film base is not normal for any film I know of.

That said, it shouldn't make any difference in projection or enlargement (both normally done with the base side toward the light source, emulsion toward the screen or easel).

Don_ih · Jan 27, 2021

You should post a photo of it. Maybe it's not sufficiently fixed? Residual silver in shadow areas can look kinda "frosted" when the film is not fixed properly.
RetroPan is the grainiest film ever made, though - so it's possible that is just how the midtones look.
As for the base, I'm pretty sure it's just gray - it is in 35mm and 4x5.

technopoptart · Jan 28, 2021

Don Heisz said:
You should post a photo of it. Maybe it's not sufficiently fixed? Residual silver in shadow areas can look kinda "frosted" when the film is not fixed properly.
RetroPan is the grainiest film ever made, though - so it's possible that is just how the midtones look.
As for the base, I'm pretty sure it's just gray - it is in 35mm and 4x5.

That's what it is basically. I will give it another go on a day that isn't overcast for several counties across

AgX · Jan 28, 2021

There is a distinct difference between opaque or gray and frosted.

Opaque or grey means the image becoming darker, frosted means the image becoming distorted, if looking at the frosted side.

technopoptart · Feb 1, 2021

Here is a sample.

Wallendo · Feb 1, 2021

Fomapan 100 in 120 format has a dull gray base which looks quite different from Kodak and Ilford films. I suspect what you are seeing is normal for Foma films.

Addendum: In my experience Foma 120 negatives come out looking dull, and has an appearance I generally associate with expired film and age-related fogging. I have gotten used to this and it doesn't seem to affect image quality.

Foma Retropan 320 issue

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