Magenta cast on 35mm film C41

jackkguy · May 2, 2019

Hey all,
I am new to C41 home processing. Just mixed my chemistry and developed my first roll. Not exactly sure what it was but it was 800 speed Kodak from a disposable camera, that's as specific as I can be. I worked my best to keep temp at 102, as the Unicolor kit I used suggested. Followed instructions to a t, and when scanning my negatives they came out incredibly red/magenta. Ive attached a few scans, I think maybe its my Blix? was going to develop another roll and double the Blix time and see if that has any effect on the coloration. Please let me know with any suggestions as a I am certainly new to all this.

Thanks a bunch

trendland · May 2, 2019

Let me ask : Is the film you developed expired?

with regards

jackkguy · May 2, 2019

trendland said:
Let me ask : Is the film you developed expired?

with regards

The film is not expired

trendland · May 2, 2019

jackkguy said:
The film is not expired

Hmm never saw such issue from c41 development!
But it reminds my about worse expired (damadged films) I ever got from costomer minilab!
Sorry I have to quit here - perhaps the color developer was bad? (expired part c of Maco color developer c41 would not cause magenta cast? ) Hmm - no idea sorry never saw such extreme cast!

with regards

koraks · May 2, 2019

Could you post a photo of the negatives please? Preferably on a light box or otherwise lit from the back.

jackkguy · May 2, 2019

koraks said:
Could you post a photo of the negatives please? Preferably on a light box or otherwise lit from the back.

I'll post one asap, I was thinking maybe it was my scans. But I really don't see how I could get that much red off a bad scan

Truzi · May 2, 2019

It may just be an issue with the scanning.
It would be easier to help if we could see the negatives.

Can you use a smart-phone to post a picture of the negatives themselves, including the rebate (sprocket-hole area)? Perhaps hold them to a white piece of paper, or against a blank web-browser page (about:blank) for back-light.

Photo Engineer · May 2, 2019

Looks like red safelight fog.

PE

trendland · May 2, 2019

From development under normal safelight condition (not in total darkness?)

Guess you got it here PE!

with regards

PS : Like I mentioned - I can't remember such cast ever - but I am not quite experienced
from film spooling under German U-boat safelight....

!

jackkguy · May 2, 2019

Photo Engineer said:
Looks like red safelight fog.

PE

I used a safelight from B and H, but maybe I had some extra light creeping in

koraks · May 2, 2019

Ah. Color material is without a safe light. Now you know. Pitch dark from here on!

jackkguy · May 2, 2019

Truzi said:
It may just be an issue with the scanning.
It would be easier to help if we could see the negatives.

Can you use a smart-phone to post a picture of the negatives themselves, including the rebate (sprocket-hole area)? Perhaps hold them to a white piece of paper, or against a blank web-browser page (about:blank) for back-light.

Both sides of the scan, Don't know if this will help much. Any suggestions greatly appreciated

pentaxuser · May 2, 2019

jackkguy said:
I used a safelight from B and H, but maybe I had some extra light creeping in

Just out of curiosity, what made you think that there was a "safe" safelight for loading C41 into a reel. Was this the first film processing of any kind you tried i.e. you had not done any B&W film processing previously?

In fact for all practical purposes C41 and B&W film share the need to be loaded in total darkness. Frankly I am surprised that the C41 negatives came out as well as this under your B&H safelight. What safelight was it in terms of colour and what did it say it was safe for and and how far away was it from the film when you were loading it into the reel?

pentaxuser

jackkguy · May 2, 2019

pentaxuser said:
Just out of curiosity, what made you think that there was a "safe" safelight for loading C41 into a reel. Was this the first film processing of any kind you tried i.e. you had not done any B&W film processing previously?

In fact for all practical purposes C41 and B&W film share the need to be loaded in total darkness. Frankly I am surprised that the C41 negatives came out as well as this under your B&H safelight. What safelight was it in terms of colour and what did it say it was safe for and and how far away was it from the film when you were loading it into the reel?

pentaxuser

Yeah no total rookie, I'd never learn if I didn't juts go out and try it on my own. I bought this one https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/15766-REG/Delta_35110_Brightlab_Universal_Red_Junior.html Sounded like it would work, but I was loading film within inches of the light. Could it really be this simple?

Kino · May 2, 2019

Yes, that simple. No light. Period.

I am amazed you got anything at all from that roll...

macfred · May 2, 2019

From the Kodak - Publication K-4:
''... Because of their sensitivity to light
of all colors, you must handle the
following types of films, plates, papers, and materials in total
darkness:
Panchromatic black-and-white films and plates
Color camera films
Slide and print films (for making transparencies from color
negatives)
Duplicating and internegative films
High-speed infrared films
Color reversal papers
Color negative papers and materials designed for Process RA-4 ...''

pentaxuser · May 2, 2019

jackguy, I too am amazed as well like Kino. If anyone had asked me what to expect with a red light of 11watts only a few inches from the film when loading I'd never have given any hope of negatives that good and with an 800 film as well The portrait is especially good and with PS correction might even be OK. I now seriously wonder if correction under an enlarger colour head might be possible?

So you had not tried B&W film processing previously either? So without wishing to be funny but I will have to risk appearing that way, can I ask : If this was your first attempt at film processing but you consider yourself not be a total rookie then at what earlier point in film processing did you feel yourself to cease to be a rookie?

pentaxuser

jackkguy · May 2, 2019

pentaxuser said:
jackguy, I too am amazed as well like Kino. If anyone had asked me what to expect with a red light of 11watts only a few inches from the film when loading I'd never have given any hope of negatives that good and with an 800 film as well The portrait is especially good and with PS correction might even be OK. I now seriously wonder if correction under an enlarger colour head might be possible?

So you had not tried B&W film processing previously either? So without wishing to be funny but I will have to risk appearing that way, can I ask : If this was your first attempt at film processing but you consider yourself not be a total rookie then at what earlier point in film processing did you feel yourself to cease to be a rookie?

pentaxuser

Lol that was just a grammar thing, I meant to say No, yeah, total rookie. I've been shooting film for a few years casually but no experience with home developing. I am a total rookie no doubt. I appreciate the help

MattKing · May 2, 2019

Welcome to Photrio, and the wonderful world of darkroom.
You probably don't realize it, but the diagnosis of your problem, namely:

Photo Engineer said:
Looks like red safelight fog.
PE

,
comes from someone who really, really knows of what he speaks .
Just think of this as an opportunity for both learning yourself, and teaching us some too.
Those results are considerably better than I would have expected.

pentaxuser · May 2, 2019

jackkguy said:
Lol that was just a grammar thing, I meant to say No, yeah, total rookie. I've been shooting film for a few years casually but no experience with home developing. I am a total rookie no doubt. I appreciate the help

This will sound like a "stuck record" but it is worth saying again as have others on Photrio; Look carefully at the film makers' instructions and try to get a book(s) on darkroom processing. There are still plenty about on the secondhand market and all at very reasonable prices. Learning by doing is great but you need to know certain things before you try to do it.

The good news is that judging by the negatives you have managed to process very well. Once you can load reels in the dark and it isn't that hard then you negatives will look fine.

pentaxuser

Photo Engineer · May 2, 2019

Thanks Matt. I learned the hard way too! I only wish to pass it on. I wish Jackguy the best in his future with film and Photrio.

PE

AgX · May 3, 2019

koraks said:
Ah. Color material is without a safe light. Now you know. Pitch dark from here on!

Colour papers have a tiny sensitvity gap and can be exposed by a certain small-band lighting (as in Na-vapour emission).

Yes, Colour films have to be handled and processed in absolute darkness. (Except for IR light of sufficient long wavelength.)

Helge · May 3, 2019

Developing by inspection taken to the next level. ;-)
This is just extreme latensification guys. Look at those shadows!

Chan Tran · May 3, 2019

I did mostly C41/RA4 darkroom work and very little B&W just because I can't shoot B&W well. But doing color I really miss seeing the image emerges on the paper as it's developed in the tray.

pentaxuser · May 3, 2019

Chan Tran said:
I did mostly C41/RA4 darkroom work and very little B&W just because I can't shoot B&W well. But doing color I really miss seeing the image emerges on the paper as it's developed in the tray.

As has been said for RA4, seeing the image on the paper as it develops in the tray is in fact possible with a DUKA sodium light set at a low level. It is of course far from ideal in terms of detailed inspection of the print. That has to wait for blix and normal room light

pentaxuser

Magenta cast on 35mm film C41

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