Stains and specks

[Gabriel Aszalos]

I'd like to get some advice on better handling negatives. I just scanned my latest roll and I see some odd specks which don't look like scratches and I wonder where they're coming from. I also see some remainders from drops of water which I can only presume was due to me being hasty and not leaving the film to dry overnight (although 3h30m should've been enough). Next time I'll definitely give it at least 12 hours. But besides the water drops, there's the odd scratch/speck I can't identify. I wonder if I mishandled the film in some way when loading it onto my Hewes reel or when carrying it from drying to scanning.

Please take a look at the photos. These images were two frames apart, check the top right area. Do you think that's also water? Maybe I haven't used Photo-Flo properly? I put around 1/200 dilution, agitate 5 times, leave for around a minute.

https://i.ibb.co/YyhpxZJ/Capture0162.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/WgCZrVT/Capture0164.jpg

Please note that each image is around 12MB.

 

[foc]

Did you examine your negatives and can you see the marks on the negs?
Did you check your scanner?
Maybe post a photo of your negs (like this)

 

[Gabriel Aszalos]

Thanks for replying, here they are:

https://ibb.co/GQdgPvm
https://ibb.co/rMhWG3d

Honestly I don't know if it helps much. I don't have a loupe, but I tried to look at it with a macro lens and I still couldn't tell. Looks like dust.

 

[bdial]

The mark on the right of the first image looks like a water spot, the spots in the second image are dust.
Photo-flo is very sensitive to dilution, sometimes 1:200 is too much. Also if it’s making suds when you agitate you are being too vigorous, try very gentle agitation or none at all.
For dust, the usual cause is airborne dust sticking to the film when it’s wet. You should hang it somewhere protected from air movement if possible. Dirt and other debris can come from your water too, you may need to use water you have filtered for mixing and washing. But I would look at your drying process first.

 

[Gabriel Aszalos]

Thanks. Next time, I'll try to mix the photoflo inside a separate container, gently, and then pour it on top of the film reel and simply give it a slight spin, letting it sit for 30s. I also will not use tap water anymore for any of the washes and see how that goes. Dust can be removed in post, but not water marks, those are terrible...

 

[MattKing]

FWIW, I don't put Photo-flo into my tank or in contact with my reels. I use a separate container for the Photo-flo. I take the film off the reels and add it carefully to the working strength Photo-flo. I move the film in the Photo-flo to agitate it.
I have a method which helps me ensure accurate dilution of the Photo-flo, and adds a bit of helpful alcohol as well. Here is a link (be sure to look at the discussion as well):
https://www.photrio.com/forum/resources/making-and-using-a-kodak-photo-flo-stock-solution.396/
As for the area you are using to dry the film, I find a shower with a closed curtain or door to be perfect. Try running warm water before hanging the film - it increases the humidity (which helps with even drying) and reduces airborne dust.