Shadows on negatives using SP445

shutterfinger · Oct 27, 2018

tim48v said:
We're stilling investigating and any additional info would be appreciated.

I use JOBO 2500 tanks and reels. Jobo requires a prewash to prevent streaking. I do have problems without a prewash. I use a prewash with roll film in stainless steel 16 oz tanks without any ill effects. I have processed recent emulsion batches from both Kodak and Ilford.

wyofilm said:
Do you recommend emulsion towards the holder or away from the holder?

The emulsion should face the center of the tank in standard 16 oz tank reels and Jobo recommends loading their reels so the sheet film emulsion faces the center of the tank. It may have to do with chemical flow over the film through the reels.

FWIW, I currently use HC110. I have used Rodinol and Xtol in the past. I fill the developing tank with water then mix the developer dilution, agitate the tank, empty then pour in the developer. The time from filling the tank with water to emptying it is 3 to 5 minutes.

wyofilm · Oct 27, 2018

I put the emulsion facing away from the film holder to maximize developer flow. I can imagine poor chemical access between the two film sheets when the emulsion sides are facing towards one another.

shutterfinger · Oct 27, 2018

wyofilm said:
I put the emulsion facing away from the film holder to maximize developer flow. I can imagine poor chemical access between the two film sheets when the emulsion sides are facing towards one another.

I just looked at the use instructions. It says to put the holder in one hand then load with the emulsion side up. That should result in the emulsion facing the outside of the holder so you are loading it correctly.

wyofilm · Oct 27, 2018

shutterfinger said:
I just looked at the use instructions. It says to put the holder in one hand then load with the emulsion side up. That should result in the emulsion facing the outside of the holder so you are loading it correctly.

Thanks for checking shutterfinger.

shutterfinger · Oct 27, 2018

Put the sheet of film with the shadow back into the holder as it was when loaded for development Does the shadow(s) align with the frame or supports?

wyofilm · Oct 27, 2018

shutterfinger said:
Put the sheet of film with the shadow back into the holder as it was when loaded for development Does the shadow(s) align with the frame or supports?

Yes they do.

I will repeat the experiment again to see if I get the same result. If it is a problem again, I'll move to my MOD54 setup because volume reduction doesn't matter for c41. I will continue to use SP544 for b&w since I've never encountered this problem with any b&w sheets.

shutterfinger · Oct 27, 2018

Rewashing the negatives with the shadows should clear the shadows. Run color negatives back through the stabilizer after washing.

Guillaume Zuili · Nov 2, 2018

Since September I'm on an artist residency and I use them non stop. 8 shots, 2 tanks processed together.
More than 200 sheets processed already and not a single issue. I have the Mod 2.
I had issue the first time I tested it with some anti-haliation residue. By having a strong agitation during fixing that problem was definitely resolved.

I just wish I could put more sheets in each tank...

mitrajoon · Nov 3, 2018

Shutterfinger, thanks for the suggestion on how to fix (no pun intended) this issue. Still hoping someone can provide some direction on how to prevent the shadows.

shutterfinger · Nov 3, 2018

mitrajoon said:
Still hoping someone can provide some direction on how to prevent the shadows.

I think they have, vigorous agitation. I would also check how much space is between the sheet of film and the frame support or if the sheet of film is bowed slightly causing it to touch the frame. The film should be held by the edges on the short side. Perhaps there is a bur causing a bend due to a production defect or you are not getting the film in the slot correctly in the dark.

Alan9940 · Nov 3, 2018

mitrajoon said:
Still hoping someone can provide some direction on how to prevent the shadows.

Many suggestions to try out in this thread...or, you could do what I did...stop using this tank for any serious work.

Shadows on negatives using SP445

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