Strange "honeycomb" pattern in negative after developing

Grainy · Aug 10, 2011

Has anyone seen a "honeycomb" pattern like this before? If yes, what is it? It appeared on many pictures on this roll wich I developed in Rodinal. It's Rollei Pan 25 film 35mm film.

The picture is not exposed like this, I just made the scan darker in photoshop to make the pattern more clear.

Ian Grant · Aug 10, 2011

Greg's right, don't add wetting agents to developer, and sometimes they build up on reels and can cause foaming. Reels should be washed well after use with warm water and soap if necessary.

Ian

Grainy · Aug 10, 2011

Thanks. That makes sense. I developed one roll in a two reel tank, and if there was some wetting agent leftover in the thank from washing the previous rolls it would be plenty of space for foam to build up when agaitating.

Grainy · Aug 10, 2011

I only put one reel in the tank, and I used the same amount of liquid as with two rolls and two reels. So the liquid level will be lower in the tank. How full should the tank be?

Ian Grant · Aug 11, 2011

In close to 50 years I've never put a more spirals than needed in a tank, it's never caused a problem. In fact Paterson & Jobo supply looking rings to stop spirals shifting up the column when fewer reels are used.

Ian

Gerald C Koch · Aug 11, 2011

To avoid "pistoning" when using SS reels you should fill the remainer of the tank with empty reels.

Ian Grant · Aug 11, 2011

Greg Davis said:
Metal tanks have no such column. The OP didn't state what type of tank, just size so I am trying to help troubleshoot possible causes.

That's a good valid point with SS tanks.

Ian

Grainy · Aug 11, 2011

Paterson two reel tank.

Grainy · Aug 27, 2011

Kinda funny, but when I boiled some rice today I saw the exact same honeycomb pattern in the foam on the glass lid as on my negative. So now I have no doubt that it's foam that caused this pattern on my negative.

Strange "honeycomb" pattern in negative after developing

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