Lots of marks - Development mistake or something else?

[William Gonzales]

Hi All,
I would appreciate your feedback.
I recently developed a couple of 120 B&W film and they have lots of marks, it is more noticeable in the sky, please see the attached images.
Film: Kodak Tri-X 400 @400 - 120
Developer:
D-76 1+1 9.75 minutes
Agitation: 30 seconds for the first minute, then 10 seconds every 60 seconds
Water stop bath (tap water)
Fixer:
3 minutes
Agitation: 30 seconds for the first minute, then 10 seconds every 60 seconds
Washing:
Agitated 5 times then the tank was sit for 5 minutes. Poured and filled again, agitated 10 times, tank sit for 5
minutes. Poured and filled again, agitated 20 times, tank sit for 5 minutes. Tap water.
Wetting agent: Distilled water and a couple drops of photoflo.

**EDIT: The film was not expired when exposed, but it was developed approximately 1 year later and was not kept in a fridge.

Al the chemicals are fresh, mixed with distilled water.
Also, the contrast is not good, all the images are quite dull.

Any advice to avoid those problems are greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
William Gonzales

 

[ic-racer]

What was the expiration date?

 

[William Gonzales]

Good point, something I forgot to mention is that the film was fresh when exposed, it was developed approximately 1 year later.

 

[pentaxuser]

I think we can eliminate that anything is wrong with your process but beyond that I have no idea what caused the negative defects. Sorry

pentaxuser

 

[removedacct1]

Good point, something I forgot to mention is that the film was fresh when exposed, it was developed approximately 1 year later.

The last time I left a 120 roll of film undeveloped for 12 months or more, I got plenty of hideous mottling marks all over the roll, similar to what you see here. This is almost certainly related to the "backing paper offset" problem we've seen in recent years, especially with expired or improperly stored films. Almost every manufacturer's films have demonstrated this issue from time to time.

This is an example: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50797307406_3d12f7832f_h.jpg

 

[FotoD]

This is almost certainly related to the "backing paper offset" problem we've seen in recent years,

+1
If you're not developing right after exposure, storing the exposed film in closed plastic bags with some form of desiccant can mitigate this problem.

 

[koraks]

I third the notion that this is a backing paper issue.

 

[Tel]

I agree; the second picture shows a pattern of regular vertical lines that looks suspiciously like printed text. Was the film ever in contact with something like that? On the thin negative issue: exposure?

 

[ruilourosa]

when did you dilute your developer?

 

[William Gonzales]

@Tel - The film was not in contact with something.
@ruilourosa - It was diluted just before the development.

I have noticed that the developer is yellowish, that might be part of the problem. I have created another thread for that:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/fresh-d-76-is-yellowish-is-it-good.184761/

 

[ruilourosa]

i meant mixing the powder in water

or did you weighed all separate chemicals?

 

[koraks]

I have noticed that the developer is yellowish, that might be part of the problem.

Its no ot the cause of the mottling.

 

[William Gonzales]

@ruilourosa - It was mixed approximately 2 weeks before the development. Bought the bag to make 3.8 liters.

 

[removedacct1]

@ruilourosa - It was mixed approximately 2 weeks before the development. Bought the bag to make 3.8 liters.

Did you look at the sample image I linked to? I think you'll find your issue is the same as many of us have experienced" the backing paper causes contamination of the film which appears during processing. The solution? Avoid long delays between exposing and developing the film, and don't keep 120 roll film for long periods before using them. This backing paper issue has been an ongoing problem for all manufacturers for years now. Intermittent, but ongoing.

 

[cliveh]

How do you dry your negatives?

 

[William Gonzales]

@paulbarden - Thanks for the advice, definitely I will do that.

@cliveh - I use a squeegee then I hang the negatives.

 

[koraks]

I use a squeegee

At the risk of unleashing a debate that will never end...I wouldn't recommend it. I know some have great success with their squeegees, but there are at least as many people who lament over their film with long grooves running lengthwise through the emulsion.

However, the good news (again), is that this is not the cause for the particular problem you showed.

 

[Sirius Glass]

@paulbarden - Thanks for the advice, definitely I will do that.

@cliveh - I use a squeegee then I hang the negatives.

Aviod squeegees on film, they are good for paper. I recommend that you hang the negatives and then use a paper towel to draw off the water at the lowest corners. Also mix up PhotoFlo according to directions, not by throwing in drops. It is cheap, mix a liter at a time and use it as you need it. [Keep it out of direct sunlight unless you want to grow some interesting cultures.

 

[cliveh]

You are embedding dust into your negs. Never ever use a squeegee.

 

[grat]

You are embedding dust into your negs. Never ever use a squeegee.

While I find a squeegee unnecessary when using filtered water and photo-flo, whatever happened to the OP's print would require a roller, not a squeegee, and even then-- I don't think it would cause that effect.

 

[cliveh]

Where do you hang to dry?

 

[William Gonzales]

@cliveh - In my shower.

 

[William Gonzales]

Thanks everyone for your comments and advices. I have developed a 35 mm roll exposed more than a year ago and no problems, definitely, the backing paper affects 120 film stored too long.