Strange Markings on Negatives

[marcmarc]

Hi Everyone. I'm starting to notice some markings on some of my negs that I cannot account for. In this example you can see a pattern of density on the left side of the image, like a screen door or hashtag pattern. It seems this same pattern is popping up in random frames and in random places within the images and to varying degrees. Some frames on the roll look fine while these others don't. So far they are on two different rolls of 120 size FP4 that I developed in Rodinal. Fresh film shot in a recently serviced (by Harry Fleenor) Rolleicord. I've never seen this before. I also developed a couple rolls of Foma 100 and a roll of HP5 in 120 and they look fine. When I described this to a friend he suggested it might be the backing paper that got stuck to the emulsion due to moisture build up while being in my refrigeration. I've kept my unexposed films in my 'fridge for years and never had a problem. My exposed films go into zip lock sandwich bags and are kept in the freezer because it may be some time before I can get to developing them. I don't see and numbers from the backing paper on the film, just these random patterns, so I'm not sure if it's defective film, or a shutter problem or a storage problem. Any ideas? Thanks for replies.

 

[gone]

That's a new one on me. The only way to see what is going on is to run some more rolls through it from a different batch of fresh film.

Personally, I think putting exposed film into the freezer for an extended period of time is introducing an unnecessary variable into this equation. Convenient though it may be, I wouldn't do it.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Looks like a double exposure to me.

PE

 

[jerrybro]

How do you load your tanks to develop? The pattern has a look of cordura to it.

 

[Kirks518]

How do you load your tanks to develop? The pattern has a look of cordura to it.

Same question as jerrybro, how do you load your reels/tanks?

Do you use a darkbag or do you have a darkroom? if you use a darkbag, could it be the problem, maybe it's not as lightproof as one would hope?

 

[marcmarc]

I'm using a darkbag to load film. So far I've developed two rolls of Foma and one roll of HP5 and they look good.

 

[marcmarc]

Here's another example, same pattern but less severe and in different areas of the negative.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

I wonder if it's possible the conveyor system was maladjusted during the emulsion coating process. I can't conceive of anything in your camera causing such an issue.

 

[bvy]

Looks like a double exposure to me.

My first thought as well. The pattern has some "dimension" to it. Almost looks like fabric or the inside of a bag.

 

[marcmarc]

I think it's my changing bag. I took a close look at it and it has two layers, the top and outside and the inside which is a different material then the top. Well, the inside layer is peeling and flaking off in several places. When I hold this up to a light I can see how light sneaks through and I can see a screen/hashtag symbol pattern of the weave of the other layer. Of course this doesn't account for why so far only the FP4 rolls have been affected but it may just be a coincidence. So, I'm going to start with a replacement bag and go from there.

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

I think it's my changing bag. I took a close look at it and it has two layers, the top and outside and the inside which is a different material then the top. Well, the inside layer is peeling and flaking off in several places. When I hold this up to a light I can see how light sneaks through and I can see a screen/hashtag symbol pattern of the weave of the other layer. Of course this doesn't account for why so far only the FP4 rolls have been affected but it may just be a coincidence. So, I'm going to start with a replacement bag and go from there.

Interesting... sounds reasonable.