My Color Developing: Did I Cause These Light Streaks?

eharriett · Mar 10, 2018

I am trying out a new C-41 kit. I switched from Uni to Rollei's kit. Aside from it being a bit more expensive, I like it better overall. I like the look of most of the negatives and the way the colors are turning out. However, on this second roll of development, and also on the third, I am beginning to get light streaks on random shots.

These were done with two different 35mm cameras and two different film stocks. I finished scanning in one already, and I am working on the other, the light streaks appear similar. Since they were in 2 different cameras, I am assuming it is my developing technique. Can someone give me some pointers as to what I did. Here is my developing routine for both rolls:

Used dark changing bag to roll onto my hand development tank. A Jobo. Only develop one 35mm roll at a time even though I can do two.

Chemistry: Rollei C-41 1l developer/Blix/Stabilizer. Mixed 2 days ago and stored in plastic bottles with oxygen squeezed out.

All 3 heated to 38 degrees C

1. Wash in water for 3:30 at 38 degrees C
2. Moment temperature in developer bottle drops to 38, I pour into tank. Set timer for 3:15. Rotate/agitate continuously for first 30 seconds, then for 10 seconds every additional 30 seconds. Hit the tank on the ground to knock off bubbles after every cycle.
3. Clear out Developer, add Blix. Set timer for 6:00. Same agitate/rotate sequence as with developer.
4. Clear out Blix. Wash at 38 degrees C for 3:15. Just fill, shake, pour out, repeat until timer ends.
5. Add stabilizer. Let sit for 2 minutes after a 10 second shake.
6. Pour out. Final Rinse, add a bit of photo flo and expose to light.

And these are my results. The light streak discoloration goes from subtle to completely white. It is not every frame. And this is not "trick" film. Would appreciate any insights. I am really enjoying doing home developing, but I can't seem to find the solution.

WilmarcoImaging · Mar 10, 2018

Light leak. Could be:

- during developing (tank not 100% light tight or lid loose/not properly fitted), or
- when loading the film on the reel, or
- accidental opening of the camera while film was loaded.

MattKing · Mar 10, 2018

Can we see the negatives please - including the edges?

Sirius Glass · Mar 10, 2018

Without looking at the negatives, I would suspect a tank light leak.

eharriett · Mar 10, 2018

Sorry for the delay. I had no idea it would be so difficult to get scans of the negatives with the sprockets left in them

Had to use a different scanning program to do it. I didn't take the time to color correct, unfortunately, but it should clearly show 2 full strips of the negative from edge to edge. This is two different strips from both the beginning and end of the roll.

Let me know if it will help for me to fix the colors and I'll rescan. Thanks for your help.

Sirius Glass · Mar 11, 2018

The fogging goes across the frames. There is a light leak in the camera, cassette, or tank.

eharriett · Mar 11, 2018

I would assume since this is from two different cameras, that it means my tank somehow has a light leak. I guess I had better replace it.

MattKing · Mar 11, 2018

eharriett said:
Sorry for the delay. I had no idea it would be so difficult to get scans of the negatives with the sprockets left in them

Had to use a different scanning program to do it. I didn't take the time to color correct, unfortunately, but it should clearly show 2 full strips of the negative from edge to edge. This is two different strips from both the beginning and end of the roll.

Let me know if it will help for me to fix the colors and I'll rescan. Thanks for your help.View attachment 196783

Thanks for your efforts, but I was asking for a digital photograph that shows what your negatives look like, not an inverted scan.
Any time you add scanning equipment and software into the mix, it becomes difficult to tell where problems are arising from.
The image you posted tells us that problems go right across the film - including the sprockets and rebate.
While it looks like it is a problem with light leaks, it might also be a problem with incomplete and uneven fixing - the scan makes it hard to tell.
With a digital shot of the negatives - preferably both front and back - it will be easier to help.

eharriett · Mar 11, 2018

My apologies. I did not understand. Thank you for the clarification. Let me know if this is more helpful.
Thanks.

WilmarcoImaging · Mar 11, 2018

Yes, a light leak for sure. Likely happening when the film is spooled, which can be in the developing tank (on the reel) or in the camera before being rewound.

There could have been light in the room/space the film was removed from the cassette and loaded onto the reel.

The tank could have a crack (but it would leak and you would notice this), or the lid may have been accidentally slightly opened.

The camera back may have been accidentally opened.

Which of these do you think it is/was?

AgX · Mar 11, 2018

White reels due to their opacity should give a some density difference at the rebates (I assume), I do not see such.

glbeas · Mar 11, 2018

Lightsruck film on a reel would not have such narrow bands especially considering the spacing of the bands. This looks like it happened while on the cassette spool, whether in camera, through the felt trap or during loading in the darkroom is difficult to say. Felt trap leaks are generally more narrow than these bands so this is less likely. I think you would remember opening the camera back and the results of that are way more drastic than what I see here. Have you checked your changing bag for loose elastic or defective zipper seals? Also was the room you were in brightly lit when loading?

eharriett · Mar 11, 2018

You brought up two potential possibilities.

I load the film using a dark bag. I didn’t really suspect the bag since the lines are straight, and I would have thought it would have made more oddball shapes if it was the bag. That being aid, I need a bigger bag anyway.

I can be convinced it is the tank. As far as leaking, yeah, there are leaks in it, although I always thought it was coming out the top during the inversion process, I’ll see about replacing.

If I can find a day light loading tank, it would solve two problems in one. But the only new one I’m aware of is the Lab Box and that one isn’t coming out for about a year.

Thanks.

Sirius Glass · Mar 11, 2018

MattKing said:
Thanks for your efforts, but I was asking for a digital photograph that shows what your negatives look like, not an inverted scan.
Any time you add scanning equipment and software into the mix, it becomes difficult to tell where problems are arising from.
The image you posted tells us that problems go right across the film - including the sprockets and rebate.
While it looks like it is a problem with light leaks, it might also be a problem with incomplete and uneven fixing - the scan makes it hard to tell.
With a digital shot of the negatives - preferably both front and back - it will be easier to help.

That is a great recommendation. It eliminates any scanner compensation, automatic or user driven, and provides the sprockets and edges for 35mm and edges for larger formats. Can we put this into a FAQ for people that want to post film problems?

MattKing · Mar 11, 2018

Does the JOBO tank have a central post, and did you forget to put it in or did you use one intended for another tank?
(Same observation for Paterson tanks).
If that is the problem, take comfort in the fact that you are not the first

Sirius Glass · Mar 11, 2018

MattKing said:
Does the JOBO tank have a central post, and did you forget to put it in or did you use one intended for another tank?
(Same observation for Paterson tanks).
If that is the problem, take comfort in the fact that you are not the first

A missing center post would not cause streaks with parallel sides that regularly span frames. It camera body was opened or has light leaks.

eharriett · Mar 11, 2018

I’ve noticed it from two different cameras, so I think the camera isn’t the culprit.

The Jobo tank, on the other hand, was an eBay purchase. There’s no center post. I didn’t think there should be one.

Know if a daylight loading tank as replacement?

MattKing · Mar 11, 2018

eharriett said:
There’s no center post. I didn’t think there should be one.

Which tank?
The 2500 system tanks (as an example) have centre posts. See Jobo USA's site:

eharriett · Mar 12, 2018

It is a Jobo 2236. Hand inversion tank. I went really inexpensive. First tank, never developed film before. Didn’t know if I would enjoy the process, wanted to spend as little as possible. Looks like I may have spent too little, if it turns out it has a light leak.

AgX · Mar 12, 2018

eharriett said:
The Jobo tank, on the other hand, was an eBay purchase. There’s no center post. I didn’t think there should be one.

Any Jobo film tank at least since the 70s has a center post.

With a 2-reels tank using no collumn and only one reel there would be a large gap. In a 1-reel tank or a 2-reels tank with both reels the funnel would fit close, but the modern reels have a translucent core.

But anyway, the artefact shown does not seem to come from a tank not light tight.

glbeas · Mar 12, 2018

I have Jobo lids that has a cup like baffle under the inlet so a post is not needed, possible made for use with sheet film. It will work with a reel but the cup limits the number of reels that will fit in the tank. Does your tank lid have this baffle or is it a straight through hole?

eharriett · Mar 12, 2018

AgX said:
Any Jobo film tank at least since the 70s has a center post.

With a 2-reels tank using no collumn and only one reel there would be a large gap. In a 1-reel tank or a 2-reels tank with both reels the funnel would fit close, but the modern reels have a translucent core.

But anyway, the artefact shown does not seem to come from a tank not light tight.

You do not think the light streaks are from the development tank not being light tight? What do you suggest?

AgX · Mar 12, 2018

How should the light enter the film?
Even without collumn there would be the milky core that would diffuse any light. If there was a gap (1 reel in a 2-reel tank), there still are those milky reels that should give some shadow.
And others pointed out that no form of light leak at a tank could produce that repetitive pattern.

bstark · Mar 12, 2018

A Jobo 2236 ist most certainly supposed to have a center post. Are the reels clear plastic with a slightly translucent grey or white core? I'm torn on this. The lack of a center column would certainly cause fogging, but I agree that the pattern shown is almost too clean for this to be the cause.

eharriett · Mar 12, 2018

OK, I may have misunderstood and confused center post with that center stir stick on some other tanks. It has a rod I can put the reels on a a clip to keep it held down. The reels are a clear plastic with a white core.

AgX: I guess I am still confused as to where you are going with this. Sorry, I am still extraordinarily new to this and I am really trying hard to find the problem. I am not seeing it in the camera if I am seeing the error from two different cameras and it is not on every frame. Please help me understand what I you are seeing?

My Color Developing: Did I Cause These Light Streaks?

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