Rollei Digibase C41 - brown streaks

alter ego 6x9 · May 3, 2012

OK, I've started my own C41 almost a year ago but still could not get it right. First I realized that developing instructions from Rollei were not complete - omitting wash after bleach and fixer. I changed that and now my process is:
- presoaking
- development
- quick wash
- blech (4.30min)
- wash (3 min)
- fix (6.30 min)
-wash (3 min)
-stabilizer

Now, why do I get those brown streaks? They seem to be in the same place of each frame. I thought the issue is because I use long time ago expired film, but I see it on different brands of film I use. It is not that I get those streaks every time, but quite often despite the fact that my process is quite consistent. Below are examples (first one is Reala, the second is Konica Centuria, both expired in 2006 or 2007):

AndreyV · May 3, 2012

What kind of agitation do you use?

alter ego 6x9 · May 3, 2012

As per instructions - every 30 sec. But maybe I agitate it wrongly - I don't invert tank but rather do a few rotary movements

wilfbiffherb · May 3, 2012

i have had this a couple of times. ive narrowed it down to insufficient bleaching and processing at wrong temperatures

pentaxuser · May 3, 2012

I think PE recommends 6:30 for bleach and wilfbiffherb's comments would seem to back this up. Worth a try. Other than dev stage tepm shouldn't be critical within 1-2 degrees F

pentaxuser

AndreyV · May 3, 2012

1. Defects have strong lines. I think problem is in tank or agitation.
2. May be film was under X-rays.

AndreyV · May 3, 2012

alter ego 6x9 said:
First I realized that developing instructions from Rollei were not complete - omitting wash after bleach and fixer.

Rollei instruction is correct. Do not use wash especially after developer and after bleach. Of course you can do it, but it is not necessary.
You can wash after fixer, but I recommend to use distilled water.

alter ego 6x9 · May 3, 2012

AndreyV said:
Rollei instruction is correct. Do not use wash especially after developer and after bleach. Of course you can do it, but it is not necessary.
You can wash after fixer, but I recommend to use distilled water.

Well, then it is contradictory to what I have read on this forum. No wash after developer - correct, but I have seen many suggestion to have a decent wash after the bleach... So what is correct?

Instructions also give bleach time 3 min to 4.20min (not 6.30), and I usually bleach for almost 5min, so insufficient bleaching sounds to me unlikely. Maybe agitation is an issue. In the very beginning I used to invert the tank once and now that I analyse my early scans i could not see this issue...

Rhodes · May 3, 2012

In the digibase c-41 thread, it was conclued that the times provided by rollei are not right and it's better to use the kodak/fuji times for C-41, so bleach is 6.30m. Also, it's normal to extend the times of bleach and fixer after a few films and I think there is no problem with that.
I had some streaks in the negatives also and PE advise using a acid stop of 1% after the developer because as "bleach is used, the pH goes up and its ability to act as a stop goes down. Also, with bad agitation even fresh bleach is not spread evenly. Thus, development can continue for a short time leading to streaks where development is not stopped quickly enough."(PE, a week ago )

alter ego 6x9 · May 3, 2012

Greg Davis said:
Here is Kodak CIS-211, instructions for processing in small tanks using C-41. The steps are listed in a chart on page 2. Follow them and you can't go wrong.

Thanks Greg, I will try this... So basically I need to increase the bleach time and use a bit different agitation. And maybe use a quick stop bath after developer as somebody suggested...

alter ego 6x9 · May 3, 2012

Thanks everybody. I think I am finally there - I've just developed one more roll, increased bleaching time and changed agitation and all dirty streaks are gone! I have waisted quite a bit of old film to get there, but I am happy nevertheless.

Athiril · May 8, 2012

Do not wash//water stop after developer.

Put the bleach straight in. If you use water, you can fog the film and increase graininess and make the image uneven.

You can use an acidic stop (diluted cheap white vinegar or acetic acid based stop) after dev though, rinse then bleach.

Also, re-process those images from the bleach step to correct insufficient bleach and fixing.

Photo Engineer · May 8, 2012

Don't use a water wash after development!

This can cause streaks. If you have streaks and cannot eliminate them by any changes to your workflow, then try a 1 - 2% stop bath after the developer.

As Athiril says, re-bleach, wash, fix, wash and stabilize your streaky film. It might remove the streaks.

PE

alter ego 6x9 · May 9, 2012

Thanks! I was thinking it is waisted for good, but if i can fix the way you suggestedit i'll be great!

Athiril · May 9, 2012

To give an example. I used to wash after developer with water when I first started. I got seemingly great results.

I moved house, and all of a sudden, I had massively high dMin, and I couldn't figure it out, I mixed up every solution from scratch, and it was still happening, eventually I tried going straight to bleah and again another process with using an actual stop which solved all those problems. So I can only think what issues I had originally that I didn't notice because they were not severe.

gothambill · May 10, 2012

Pre-washing is apparently not a good idea (see link), distilled water with the final rinse can prevent streaking due to mineral deposits. Quite a few useful c41 hints here: http://www.shutterbug.com/content/darkroombrprocessing-medium-format-c-41-film

Rollei Digibase C41 - brown streaks

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