Horizontal Lines in prints

Silverpixels5 · Apr 14, 2005

I seem to be having a very annoying problem with my 35mm cameras lately. I am getting a number of very very fine horizontal lines going through the print (from the negative of course). The lines extend from one end to the other and are perfectly straight. They are white in color(black in the negatives) and sometimes there's one...sometimes more. Could it be that my shutter curtain is leaking light? Has anyone else experienced this, or have an idea of what it could be? The crazy thing is that it only shows up with B&W film. I ran about 3 rolls of color through it, and there was nothing to speak of. Thanks.

argus · Apr 14, 2005

Spot using that inktjet NOW!

Sorry, could not leave this one go

Are the lines always on the same spot of the negatives?
The first thing I could think about is dust in your camera back.

G

André E.C. · Apr 14, 2005

I had similar problems some years ago with one F80, the problem was with the pressure plate.

Cheers

André

Bob Carnie · Apr 14, 2005

Hi There
Do you process your own film or send it out?
as stated could be pressure plate,
could be dust in the camera
if your film is being sent out the cause could be at the proofing stage, poor handling .
if your film is being sent out , and the lab uses a roller transport film machine for the black and white this also could be the source.

If you are processing yourself and are not photoflowing correctly I have seen a white line in the print that runs the lenght of the film in the last few frames.

If you send to a lab , check what type of machine .
If you process yourself then I suspect the camera.
best regards Bob

Silverpixels5 · Apr 14, 2005

Juba said:
I had similar problems some years ago with an F80, the problem was with the pressure plate.

Cheers

André

Thanks for your input! Any idea why it doesn't show up with color prints?

Silverpixels5 · Apr 14, 2005

I process my own B&W...I send out for color. All B&W film gets a final rinse in DI water with photo-flo. I'll take the camera in for inspection....I'll also try a new wetting agent.

dschneller · Apr 14, 2005

Do you bulk load your B&W film?

Silverpixels5 · Apr 14, 2005

dschneller said:
Do you bulk load your B&W film?

Nope. I don't think its scratches though, as I would think they would produce black lines on prints.

lee · Apr 14, 2005

wouldnt a scratch on the base side of the film produce a white or light colored scratch on the print? If that is the case then I suspect the aforementioned pressure plate.

lee\c

Silverpixels5 · Apr 14, 2005

lee said:
wouldnt a scratch on the base side of the film produce a white or light colored scratch on the print? If that is the case then I suspect the aforementioned pressure plate.

lee\c

I believe you are quite right Lee! I completely forgot about scratches on the base side. I can sometimes see the lines in the negatives, but I took for granted that they were on the emulsion side. I'll look more closely this evening. Thanks!

Charles Webb · Apr 14, 2005

Scratches cause fine White lines in print. Are caused by the pressure plate. Black lines or spots in print are only on the emulsion side. If you use a auto or rapid rewind don't. Until you have located the problem and polished the microscopic burr off the pressure plate. Most base side scratching is caused
during rewind.

Woolliscroft · Apr 16, 2005

I notice that you say cameras (plural) which suggests that it is not one camera causing scratches. As you don't bulk load and the film is not all the same type, always processed by the same lab, it is rather odd. Have you been somewhere very dusty lately that might be affecting several cameras? You need to find a common factor.

David.

bobfowler · Apr 16, 2005

My F3 was giving me fits - lot's of scratches on the base side of the film. I checked the pressure plate and everything looked OK. I got the bright idea to take a (factory loaded) roll and waste it by running it through, then just fixing the film and checking it with a magnifier. Sure enough, there was a slight burr that I couldn't feel (my hands aren't exactly soft) but was scratching the film once the pressure plate was doing its job. I solved the problem by buying an MF-18 databack - which I wanted anyway!

benjiboy · May 19, 2005

Silverpixels5 said:
I seem to be having a very annoying problem with my 35mm cameras lately. I am getting a number of very very fine horizontal lines going through the print (from the negative of course). The lines extend from one end to the other and are perfectly straight. They are white in color(black in the negatives) and sometimes there's one...sometimes more. Could it be that my shutter curtain is leaking light? Has anyone else experienced this, or have an idea of what it could be? The crazy thing is that it only shows up with B&W film. I ran about 3 rolls of color through it, and there was nothing to speak of. Thanks.

They are what are called " Tramline Scratches " and are usually caused by either roughness or dust on the film guide rails.

Ara Ghajanian · May 19, 2005

My F3 does the same thing too. Thin white lines on prints which are in about the smae location every time. There is some slight roughness on the pressure plate. Would this problem be resolved by a CLA?
Ara

Dave Parker · May 19, 2005

Silverpixels5 said:
I seem to be having a very annoying problem with my 35mm cameras lately. I am getting a number of very very fine horizontal lines going through the print (from the negative of course). The lines extend from one end to the other and are perfectly straight. They are white in color(black in the negatives) and sometimes there's one...sometimes more. Could it be that my shutter curtain is leaking light? Has anyone else experienced this, or have an idea of what it could be? The crazy thing is that it only shows up with B&W film. I ran about 3 rolls of color through it, and there was nothing to speak of. Thanks.

This is a problem that has occured in a couple of my Minolta cameras, if they are perfectly straight, take one of your negs and place along the rails to see where they line up, I have had to send two cameras in to have this repaired and it was very fine dirt particles in the area when the film rolled onto the take up spool..

Dave

Horizontal Lines in prints

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