Spotty/Mottled negative

[Pieter12]

A roll of HP5+ I processed the other day shows a strange spotting or mottled pattern especially noticeable in the sky areas. It is not very apparent on the first two frames of the roll, but appears pretty much on the rest. I did do something different from my usual processing--I used stop bath instead of a water rinse. However, a second roll (I believe it was on the top of the two) of film came out pretty much as expected. Two different cameras, but the one with the problems has not given me negatives like this before. Any idea of what went wrong here? I am attaching an example of the problem and an example of a frame from the second roll processed at the same time, same tank. These are quick & dirty scans, not cleaned up.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I do not see it, but I see a band across the sky in the second one.

 

[Pieter12]

I do not see it, but I see a band across the sky in the second one.

A little larger.

 

[Sirius Glass]

That could be air bells. Did you thump the tank just after you filled each chemical?

 

[Pieter12]

Just after the initial fill. And the other roll in the tank came out fine.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Just after the initial fill. And the other roll in the tank came out fine.

Is this with fresh (in date) film?

 

[Pieter12]

Is this with fresh (in date) film?

Fresh film. But that roll did sit in the camera for a few months. The first shots on the roll came out fine--shot the same day as the example image. I haven't tried to print anything yet, so less obvious defects might rear their ugly heads.

 

[MattKing]

That looks like a moisture related interaction between film and backing paper.

 

[mpirie]

+1......ive seen this on Pan-F and HP-5 before and have to put it down to storage conditions.

Mike

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Fresh film. But that roll did sit in the camera for a few months. The first shots on the roll came out fine--shot the same day as the example image. I haven't tried to print anything yet, so less obvious defects might rear their ugly heads.

I've never had much luck with '120' film left in camera for extended periods, but as others have said here I would look at backing paper interactions being a prime suspect.

 

[halfaman]

It is an issue affecting Ilford films in 120 format for a couple of years or so and seems there is no end to it. Ilford ankowledge it but gave no solution.

https://www.ilfordphoto.com/statement-120-roll-film/

You have a thread open here.

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/ilford-film-manufacturing-defects-post-here.167206/

And some recent examples of the same defects in a Spanish forum.

https://www.formatomedio.eu/galeria-argentica-5/mirando-al-anochecer/
https://www.formatomedio.eu/laboratorio/problema-revelado-pelicula-120/

 

[Pieter12]

I contacted Ilford and they confirmed the issue. And they did say they'd send a replacement roll of film for what that's worth.

 

[Jose Velez]

I'm having the exact same problem recurrently with FP4+ 120. First time it happened two years ago, Ilford acknowledged it and sent me replacement films. Yesterday I developed a roll from a fresh batch, and the same problem popped up...

 

[awty]

I'm having the exact same problem recurrently with FP4+ 120. First time it happened two years ago, Ilford acknowledged it and sent me replacement films. Yesterday I developed a roll from a fresh batch, and the same problem popped up...

Do you keep your film in the fridge?