strange line of density increase and light leak question.

[GraemeMitchell]

Hello, 2 questions really, that I'm sure you guys and gals can help me out with.

Started shooting with an old Linhof color I got used. It's clearly been through the ringer, needed new bellows, etc. But seems otherwise to be in good order. Since I'v started shooting with it I've had 2 problems I've never had before with the old Sinar I used previously.

1) light leaks, on the hinge end of the holders. Some are pretty dramatic fogging (so possibly bad holders), but almost all my frames have a strong fog line just in the film edge, so not going quit into the actual exposed film center. Is this a leak in my camera back??? I looked into where the holder sits, and there are felt strips on the top and bottom, but no felt on that far end. It looks though like there may have been felt there at one point... Anyway, I've never ever had film fogging, light leak problems before, and I'm looking for basic ideas to begin with.

2) this is much stranger. I got some TXP back from the holidays. 30 sheets maybe. And 3 sheets were ruined b/c they had a strong, thick line of density increase horizontally running through the frame. 2 of them were about a 3rd down from the top of the neg, and the other was almost directly through the center. It's about a one stop increase. Maybe 1/4 of inch thick. Not a perfectly straight line, but not jagged either. Almost looks like a liquid ran down it. My first idea was bad processing, but they're too consistent. My only guess is something in the camera. It's to sharp to be a lensboard fog or anything. But it drives me nuts to think it could happen any time, since it makes the neg unusable.

Appreciate any help. I'm new to these problems, so I really have no clue were to begin. Thanks in advance!
gm

 

[Wilbur Wong]

The first to me sounds like a fogged box of film. If you have any left, I would process one sheet straight from the box.

The second needs clarification for me, is it denser on one side of the line all the way to the edge of the film? Or is this a band of density increase (ie. does line mean a division point or does line mean an area with a finite width)

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

If you can post scans of the full negs or contact prints, that would help.

Is the fogging in the first case in the rebate of the film, outside the image area? If it is, then it's not happening in the camera or after the film is loaded in the holder. If the fog is only in the image area, then it's happening in the camera. Be sure the filmholder is seated properly and the bellows hasn't become detached at the film end.

 

[Donald Miller]

The best way to check this is to rack the bellows out as far as possible...In a dark room, remove the lens board and shine a bright light into the camera with a film holder inserted...If you have a camera light leak in the camera it will become apparent.

 

[Paddy]

The black felt you referred to: I replaced the old felt in the film holder of my Linhoff Super Tech. V. It was replaced with black flocking paper. I can't remember who I bought it from, but it was an astrophysics/scientific supply company,...like Edmunds Scientific. It's got the light absorbing black velvety material on one side, and is adhesive on the other. It's commonly used to line the inner barrels of telescopes to kill internal flare/reflections.

 

[GraemeMitchell]

I never actually thought of the the film box being fogged. This would nicely explain the fogged film edges. That'd be a welcomed. Since it's an easy fix, though I get nervous about where I fogged it, since I don't know where I could have???

Sadly I can't post scans. I dont' have a scanner available. But to clarify point #2. The line of inscreased density is finite. So the entire sheet of film is fine except for a the line that runs through it. At first I thought it was processing, like if you held the film at and angle and spilled some developer on it and it ran down the neg and it over developed that line. But it's too clean and consistent in the 3 frames it happenend in.

I have flashed a flash light in there, and nothing jumps out at me. It's all pretty dark except for the steel corners of the circle that are visible the rail that the back rotates on.

Hmmm. Still a bit of a mystery. I mean I would just start testing it and my holders, but I was REALLY hoping to avoid that.

 

[GraemeMitchell]

Okay #2 has been solved. I showed the film lines to the guy who runs my film and he very honestly admitted that when he pulled my film from the dipndunk the tape he uses had fallen down and fixer ran down the neg. He rewashed and etc but said this is most likely what had happened.

I appreciated his honesty.

Though. I have to say. This is the second time a TOP tier NYC lab has screwed up my film, and they never offer to credit your account or anything. I'm too nice, since I appreciate the process of working with film, but still..