Help. Whats gone wrong with this?

[thomsonrc]

Hi

I have processed some B&W film and found that there appears to have been some light leakage. But where from? The negatives all have small patches of lighter density at the top, below but in between where the sprocket holes were. Some of them have streaks all the way down the negative. Is this a camera light leak or have I done something during processing to cause this? Example from a contact sheet attached.

Thanks

Ritchie

 

[Andy K]

Looks like not enough developer in the tank, was that edge of the film uppermost in the tank?. Could also be caused by too vigorous twisting agitation, causing the dev to eddy around the sprocket holes.

 

[thomsonrc]

Hi Andy,

I thought I put enough developer in, and I usually use 4 inversions a minute to agitate. I thought it might be the light seals in my camera?

Cheers

Ritchie

 

[RobC]

A few possibilities.
I always give at least 30 seconds continuous agitation at start of dev process.

When agitating I find that moving the tank upwards and then flipping the tank over and letting the developer drop to the other end of the tank works best. If you just tip the tank over, especially if only done at moderate speed or slowly, causes dev to flow through sprocket holes and cause some of what I see in your negs. At the top of the up motion, the dev becomes weightless and is easily spun over with the tank without it flowing through sprocket holes.
Then tank is brought straight back down as dev falls down (not poured down).
Then repeat for how ever many times you want.

Also, you must rap tank on firm base straight after agitation as the reels can slide up the spool and out of the developer. Rapping the tank causes them to slide back down to bottom of tank. Obviously this may depend on your particular tank but it looks as if your reel mak have stopped in several different positions after each agitation cycle.

 

[panastasia]

It looks like not enough developer in the tank - camera light leaks would cause blotchy areas on the film as the film is stationary after film is advanced - the film shows a continuous exposure, or under development. Maybe, as Rob is saying, the reel is getting hung-up in the tank.

Paul

 

[thomsonrc]

Rob,

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. I tend to invert the tank quite slowly, dont know why but thats what I've always done. I will try your suggested method. Thanks.

Ritchie