Friend has problems

Misko78 · Jan 13, 2018

My buddy is having problems with C41 dev, and he has asked me for a help finding what is the cause but i really have no idea. He is using Jobo CPE2 + Tetenal 2 bath kit, so far he used one 1l kit without a problem and mixed the other, He developed two films in 1520 tank, these stains occur from frame 11 to frame 25 on both of the films. Films are Kodak Portra 160 and Kodak Color plus 200 (uploaded the example).
I rebleached/refixed the film in my chems but nothing has changed. Checked his equipment, rotation is as it should be, his tanks are in fine condition as well as reels. Any ideas?

WilmarcoImaging · Jan 13, 2018

If there are problems only on some frames of a roll, I would suspect something went wrong with loading the film on the reel. Also could be inadequate lighting and exposure. With the information and example provided, I am not seeing a chemistry/processing problem. What were the expiration dates of the film?

Misko78 · Jan 14, 2018

Film is fresh, two different rolls shot by different people but souped in the same chemistry, i'm attaching frame from the portra 400.

Rudeofus · Jan 14, 2018

The first image you posted is heavily underexposed and/or underdeveloped, and the scanner does crazy corrections with such negatives, typically giving the kind of result.

The defect in the second image is very strange: there is a sharp step, therefore I don't think it's a light leak. Secondly the step is in the green channel (RGB 74/69/50 jumps to77/56/52), and the green sensitive layer is typically in the middle of the emulsion layer stack. Sorry, can't answer that one.

WilmarcoImaging · Jan 14, 2018

Agree with Rudeofus on the first image. It looks heavily underexposed and potentially under developed.

The second image looks like it was not immersed fully in chemistry for the full development time. If the image presented is a full frame, the defect is along the film direction, which if used in a traditional 35mm reel in a 35mm/120 tank, would be consistent with inadequate chemical filling volume.

Sirius Glass · Jan 14, 2018

Please ask your friend to join and post more of the negatives.

trendland · Jan 15, 2018

Misko78 said:
Film is fresh, two different rolls shot by different people but souped in the same chemistry, i'm attaching frame from the portra 400.

View attachment 193506

In 35 years I never saw such kind of damage. Caused from what ever.
Is this result on your film - or have you noticed it from your scan.
What kind of failures a scanning machine could produce is a different issue.
I personaly would believe it is impossible
to have such damage from processing
(100% sure )
So at last - it looks like a damaged data
from electronic devices!
This is a hard theory - but it should be the true....

with regards

Misko78 · Jan 15, 2018

Definitely it is on film, he scanned it on Epson V700 and then i've scanned it on Microtek 120tf, different computers at different time. I've rechecked his reels and maybe the reels are a culprit here because they are not firm so maybe the film sagged and touched on some points he is doing a test development with other reels. Will inform about the progress.

trendland · Jan 15, 2018

Misko78 said:
Definitely it is on film, he scanned it on Epson V700 and then i've scanned it on Microtek 120tf, different computers at different time. I've rechecked his reels and maybe the reels are a culprit here because they are not firm so maybe the film sagged and touched on some points he is doing a test development with other reels. Will inform about the progress.

Fine - you should do this (make a clear test and inform if the same failure is comming again).

with regards

Misko78 · Jan 16, 2018

So far no problems with new reels + same chems. I gave him my old reels for 1500 series tanks when he started to develop color film. The ridge that prevents the reels to open was ground so i used two toothpicks wrapped into masking tape to block reels from opening. While we did a walkthorugh the process he mentioned that in the end he opened the reel to get the film out, which was not possible with these reels (i used them for couple of years). Wrapped toothpicks must have fallen out and unblocked the reels, While the processor rotates it could easily move to the position where it will open inside the tank, but because the center core holds reels firmly they could open just a little so the part of the film falls out of groove.

Friend has problems

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