Mottled finish on 120 negatives.

[eugenekeogh]

Hi,

Can anyone shed some light on this funny mottled finish on my negatives.

Ilford Pan F 50 (120). The roll is 10 years past its expiry date so I'm well aware that the emulsion will have lost something.

I'm keen to find out what though.

Thanks.

Eugene.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

It's not reticulation but it looks like some kind of growth.

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[gray1720]

How was the film stored? I had something similar on some Efke 127 (considerably closer to in date than your Pan F!), and the consensus was that it had probably got damp in the fridge at some point.

Adrian

 

[pdeeh]

PanF only 10 years out would normally be much better than this, I'd have thought, but I've often seen very similar on older expired films that have been badly stored (damp usually).
So it looks like it might have suffered from the way it has been stored.
It's not something you can compensate for in development technique - the emulsion itself has suffered degradation.

 

[eugenekeogh]

Thanks for the replies guys.

This would make sense. I took the pictures on a trip to France this summer. We were there for six weeks and I kept the films cool by storing them in a 12v electric coolbox.

These were some of the first pictures I made, so I guess five weeks being carted about France in a coolbox has taken its toll !

Live and learn.

Thanks again.

Eugene.

 

[pdeeh]

I think its probably the storage *before* they were exposed that's created the problem

 

[eugenekeogh]

I've only been responsible for them for a couple of months, I bought them in a job lot. They could've been stored anywhere in the last ten years ! Its the first time I've dabbled with expired stuff.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

If you took them out of their wrappers before putting them in the coolbox, then that's your problem.

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[eugenekeogh]

No all sealed in the wrappers and cardboard boxes until the point of opening for loading. That's why I thought it was odd. No sign of dampness on the boxes either. They were like brand new to look at.

 

[Xmas]

My more than ten year old expired PanF bulk is (or last cassette was) perfect never been cold stored. Lives in a bulk loader...

Why worry about heat as moisture is instant death.

 

[zanxion72]

Those patterns come from the backing paper. It could had been due to excessive moisture that had detoriated the backing paper staining the back of the film. Shining strong side light on the glossy side of the negative will show that. Sometimes one can get rid some of it by washing it in warm (not hot!) water with a drop of dish washing detergent.

 

[eugenekeogh]

Next year i'll just store it in my camera bag!