Marks on negatives not dust

Jordan.K · Nov 4, 2014

I got these marks on a few images from a recent batch of negatives. It doesn't appear sharp the way dust does from dusty film holders etc. It's soft. Film is tri-x, jobo 3010, presoak, xtol 1:1 for 7 min., stop, fresh film strength fix, water, fixer remover, wash in a gravity works washer, LFN in distilled water, hung to dry. These spots are not caked on to the negative. I've included an example. Any ideas are appreciated.

summicron1 · Nov 4, 2014

you mention film holders, is this 4 by 5 or larger?

I wonder if you had some dust floating around inside the camera. Been known to happen.

Jordan.K · Nov 4, 2014

it is 4x5. You think that could be dust floating around inside the camera?

summicron1 · Nov 4, 2014

Jordan.K said:
it is 4x5. You think that could be dust floating around inside the camera?

Anything's possible. I'd check the camera and make sure it's clean.

One presumes this is fresh film, name brand?

Mostly, I'd shoot some more and see if the problem continues or if it is a one-off. Shit happens, as the man says.

georgegrosu · Nov 5, 2014

My opinion about faults appearing in a film is the following.
Faults that occur on the surface of the emulsion or support can come from the processing or film.
Faults that occur inside the film are related to film.
And I met thus the faults and said they comets.
Appear as a point with a tail.
Faults appear randomly on film.

George

Doremus Scudder · Nov 5, 2014

Are the marks on the negative? This looks like out-of-focus dust in the printing or scanning stage.

If the negs are like this, then maybe dust on the taking lens? Uneven development, emulsion damage and/or unmixed or contaminated chemistry could also be problems.

Good luck,

Doremus

winger · Nov 5, 2014

If you're in the northeast, it's likely getting colder and drier (hence more chance of static affecting dust). I'd agree with dust in the camera as dark spots would be from something blocking at the exposure stage, not scanning or printing. The motion of pulling out the dark slide could attract dust or move it around.

Andrew O'Neill · Nov 5, 2014

They appear to be from static. I had similar marks on IR film when shooting in Southern Saskatchewan one summer. It's very dry there. Pull the darkslide out very slowly. That seemed to help me.

Marks on negatives not dust

Jordan.K

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