head scratcher, film develops out amoeba cells

[fotoobscura]

Please see attached image.

I am almost certain this is from excessive heat during wash (my wash water can fluctuate sporadically). 10m wash guessing at about 30-35c. The water was *warm* but definitely not *hot*.

I feel there is no other explanation because I developed an identical roll, identical dev, temp, camera, etc and it came out fine (sans the hot water wash).

Thanks for any thoughts.

P.S. The effect is actually quite cool!

 

[Anscojohn]

A form of reticulation, I am sure. Do it on purpose, and it is ART with a capital "A."

 

[jmcd]

Also, only three changes of water are needed (with proper agitation) to wash your film. So, I set aside 24 ounces of water at processing temperature for washing (an 8 ounce tank, e.g.) at the beginning of my processing session, because constant water temperature from my tap is a bit of a challenge and waste from the tap.

 

[Valerie]

Reticulation. Been there, done that. Pretty cool!

 

[travelingman]

So how does one do it on purpose? By using a hot wash fotoobsurca did by accident?

 

[pgomena]

Immersing the film in alternating hot and cold wash water is one way. I have found Tri-X developed in PMK Pyro will reticulate in cold wash water. I think the tanning of the gelatin has something to do with it. Once tanned the gelatin may not want to expand or contract as quickly as the base. Or the alkalinity of the Pyro developer makes the emulsion soft. Or something. It's a phenomenon I'd never seen in 25 years of developing black and white film, and I've now done it twice in a decade, not by intent. I'd always read that it is difficult to do with modern films, and some films may be harder to reticulate than others. Finding the way to do it will take some experimentation.

Peter Gomena

 

[ricksplace]

If you want reticulation, a 20F temp difference in any two baths should do it. You might want to try it with colder water to obtain the temp difference since really hot water may strip off the emulsion from the film base.

 

[patrickjames]

I had this happen to me with film I accidentally left soaking for about five hours.

 

[fotoobscura]

Thanks. I figured it was excessive heat.

For anyone that wants to replicate this, I dev'd @ 20c and washed for 10m at 35-40c. It was Efke which I would imagine is especially susceptible to this due to the old emulsion style and higher silver content. I'd also imagine that Efke film isn't as tolerant as more modern films to this (e.g. trix/tmax/etc).