Strange "honeycomb" pattern in negative after developing

[Grainy]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Ian Grant]

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]

Paterson two reel tank.

 

[Grainy]

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.