Help with first C-41 image

[chassis]

Well the image says it all. This is the scan straight out of the scanner with correction

Looks like a massive light leak on the top edge of the image. I have spent some time with the camera and film holder and haven't come up with anything. Also looked at the processing tank and don't see any cracks or leaks.

Is this a processing error? I realize there are spots and smudges, but is this a temperature/developer/bleach/fix issue?

Camera: Toyo 45AII

Film: Kodak Portra 400 4x5

Processing equipment: Paterson tank, smallest size 1 roll of 120 / 2 rolls 35mm. Quasi "taco" style with negative resting emulsion side facing toward center of tank, resting against the tank wall. Sort of like a Jobo 3010 or a BTZS tube but a larger diameter. 1 piece of film in the tank.

Chemicals: per bvy's latest post, I'm confident I mixed them correctly

Chemical quantity: tank full to nearly overflowing, approx 750ml solution per chemical

Processing: all solutions at 100 deg F
developer 3:15, agitation continuous first 15 seconds, then 4 inversions every 30 seconds
2% acetic acid stop 1:30 same agitation as developer
bleach 6:00, same agitation
distilled water wash 3:00, same agitation
fix 6:00, same agitation
distilled water wash 6:00, same agitation
final rinse 1:30, same agitation

 

[bvy]

Where and how did you load the film on the reels?

 

[chassis]

Hi bvy

No reel. I put he negative into the tank with the emulsion facing to the center of the tank, against the tank wall.

 

[fotoaupark]

... and forgot put the central column.

 

[locutus]

The tank wont be light tight without the central column.

 

[chassis]

Oh................... thanks all. No column=not light tight. Thanks! It's been a while since I have used that tank. I am mostly a BTZS tube guy now. Time to try again.

 

[bvy]

Oh................... thanks all. No column=not light tight. Thanks! It's been a while since I have used that tank. I am mostly a BTZS tube guy now. Time to try again.

I missed that it was 4x5, but suspected it might be a light leak during loading or in the tank. Sounds like you figured it out though. Good luck.