streaks on negatives

Cheryl Jacobs · Dec 28, 2006

Alright, I'm finally admitting defeat by posting a plea for help.

I've been developing film for years with no issues. Suddenly, the last six months or so, I'm fighting a very frustrating battle with streaks on my B&W negs.

Basically, I'm getting some sort of brownish residue on my negs that, when I squeegee, turn into ugly streak all the way down my neg strips. The residue does not rinse off easily, but does come off if I run my fingers over it. I haven't changed any part of my process in years, so it's not an issue of a new product or a change in work habits. It happens with all film brands and formats. It's totally infuriating.

Here's what I've tried to no avail:

- switching from tap water to distilled for all parts of the developing / washing process

- super diluting my photoflo

- switching from photoflo to LFN

- super diluting my LFN

- omitting all wetting agents entirely

- using all fresh dev, stop, and fix

- switching developer brands

- eliminating stop

- switching fixer brands

- fixing longer

- fixing twice

- rinsing longer

- rinsing with a lot of agitation

- switching fixer brands

- replacing all my chemistry bottles with new ones to eliminate any possibility of harmful residue

- replacing my film squeegees with different types, including not using any at all.

Any suggestions at all would be extremely appreciated. I'm snowed in once again in Denver, so I have plenty of time to experiment.

- CJ

Shawn Dougherty · Dec 28, 2006

This must be extremely frustrating... based on what you've listed here and assuming that you are presoaking your negatives(I presoak for 5 minutes with 1.5 drops per roll/sheet... I might look to your developing tank... are you using one of the plastic ones? Does there appear to be an issue with the tank itself? Best of luck! Shawn

Cheryl Jacobs · Dec 28, 2006

Shawn, yes, I'm doing a five minute presoak. I'm using two different tanks, and having identical problems with both, so I'm confident it isn't a tank issue.

- CJ

Shawn Dougherty · Dec 28, 2006

Well, I'm stumped. I'm sure one of the more technical minded members here will stumble across this and be able help. Good luck, Cheryl. Best. Shawn

Peter Black · Dec 28, 2006

The only further thing I can think of would be to filter everything through coffee filters, although the use of distilled water should mean that isn't necessary. We had a problem locally a month or so ago and the tap water was very turbid (looked cloudy but cleared on standing) and I had a lot of marks on film, so I dug out some old paper coffee filters and filtered all chemicals and wash water. This cleared them all up, so worth the very cheap price to try out?

Thinks: these were old filters, does anybody still use paper coffee filters nowadays?

Chuck_P · Dec 28, 2006

One of my books has a statement that goes like this: "Muddy, cream colored negatives or brownish strip down the center of the processed negatives"----------then---------"Negatives not for fixed long enough time or fixed in exhausted solution". But it sounds like you may have already covered that approach. I've no idea, but the "brownish" description makes me think it has something to do with the fixer.

Good Luck to you in figuring it out, let us know.

Chuck

Lee Shively · Dec 28, 2006

You might check your reels. Plastic reels have a habit of accumulating gunk that's hard to get off. Stainless reels can accumulate gunk that's hard to see. BonAmi and a toothbrush can clean them up. Otherwise, no idea.

Cheryl Jacobs · Dec 28, 2006

Lee, already cleaned the reel gunk via baking soda and a toothbrush. Additionally, I tried to brand new never-been-used reels today with the same issue.

I should mention that I've also used different fixer dilutions with no variance in the result. Makes me want to stick a fork in my eye.

- CJ

zone v · Dec 28, 2006

Hi
I had this problem with 4x5 sheet film and having spoken with Ilford, they recommended doubling the strength of my Perma Wash or Hypo clear. Whichever you prefer to use.
Before you hang the negs, use half strength photo flo, which I see you've already been doing.
Hope this helps.

Nicole · Dec 28, 2006

Cheryl I had a similar problem a while back and replaced my tanks and reels and it's been back to normal since. Hope you get it sorted soon.

Bob F. · Dec 28, 2006

You seem to have eliminated all potential chemical (including water) contamination possibilities so that leaves only equipment. What about the camera? Could the light seals have turned to slime and shed on to the film as it goes through? Would have thought this would be washed off during processing but worth a check. Do you bulk load film?

Any parts of the tanks and reels and other developing equipment that you can't get at with the toothbrush - possibly algae (absurd long-shot number 2...).

Good luck, Bob.

noseoil · Dec 29, 2006

Cheryl, this might be a bit more time-consuming, but give it a try. Do a roll of film (it is the same batch of film, right?). Do the snip test with 3, 5 or 8 shot clips, whatever. Check the first strip of film without any development, rinse, etc. Toss it if it looks ok. Then do the next step in your process & check same. Toss it. Continue until you find out at which point there is a problem. Good luck. tim

wfe · Dec 29, 2006

CJ,
Is this happening with different brands of film? Perhaps it is a film problem.
Oops, I just went back and saw that it is happening with all film brands.

Have you tried processing an unexposed roll of film?

Cheers,
Bill

srs5694 · Dec 29, 2006

A desperate notion: What about atmospheric contaminants? Given the quantities of goop described, this seems like a long shot, but could it be something in the air -- perhaps even a gaseous pollutant that's reacting chemically with something in one of the solutions and leaving a precipitate? I'm not enough of a chemist to suggest what it might be, but taking the equipment and chemicals and developing a roll elsewhere (in another room elsewhere in the house or even in somebody else's house) might be worth a test. If that roll comes out OK you could look into improving darkroom ventillation and tracking down the source of the pollution.

removed account4 · Dec 29, 2006

cheryl,
does this only happen with film or have you noticed
this stain in your prints as well?

maybe it is something in your water?

john

Tom Hoskinson · Dec 29, 2006

Cheryl, can you mail me a piece of the film with the stain intact? If I can identify the composition of the stain (and I probably can) we should be able to figure out the source. PM me.

Thomas Bertilsson · Dec 29, 2006

I've had a few issues with film developing, not particularly the one you're mentioning, but I did two things which helped me out:

1. Switched to a different film, I was using Efke a lot, now I use Ilford and Kodak.
2. Cleaned out my tank, very thoroughly scrubbed all surfaces.

No more problem. But all problems are unique, may not help for you.

FrankB · Dec 29, 2006

Hi Cheryl,

If I'm reading this right you've subsituted all chems and the water without altering the situation and it isn't specific to a film or format. That leaves the environment and the equipment. It's already been suggested, but I'd try processing a roll with your kit in someone else's house and processing a roll with someone else's kit in your house. Maybe also try processing one of someone else's films that they bought somewhere you don't shop and shot in their camera.

Failing that, it's you! (I always thought you were too good to be human!)

Best of luck,

Frank

SuzanneR · Dec 29, 2006

My gut is saying it may be the tanks. Have you used them for awhile? I know you said you are using two different tanks, but I might be inclined to try a brand new tank just to see. You've made a number of other adjustments, but that's the only one that seems to be missing in the list.

Very frustrating problem, I'm sure, Cheryl, and my gut may well be wrong! Hope you figure it out soon!

Gay Larson · Dec 29, 2006

Cheryl, I had an issue with my plastic film reels and I scrubed them with vinegar and a toothbrush as was suggested to me. It worked well for me. You might try that.

Cheryl Jacobs · Dec 29, 2006

OK, good suggestions.

I've already tried changing tanks and reels (including brand new ones), so I can rule that out. I've developed film from six different cameras with the same problem, so it's not the camera. I don't develop film in the darkroom, so it's not contamination there. I've loaded film in three different places in the house, so it's not a specific room, and I doubt my kitchen is contaminated. No algae on the reels, and in any case, I've tried new reels. No stains on prints, and they're washed in Denver's finest.

Seems like a logical step to try the suggestion to double the hypoclear strength, and easy enough to try. Tom, I'll definitely take you up on the offer to identify the offending substance, as I think that's the only way to really know what I'm dealing with. I'll PM you.

Thanks, all!

- CJ

lee · Dec 29, 2006

have you tried changing out the bottles or containers the developer is in? maybe filter the developer thru a coffee filter?

lee\c

Cheryl Jacobs · Dec 29, 2006

Lee, yup, have changed all the bottles for all the chemicals. Additionally, I don't store mixed developer at all, so the only container it touches is a mixing cylinder that I scrub thoroughly every time.

- CJ

FrankB · Dec 29, 2006

Hi Cheryl,

Okay, now I'm puzzled.

It'd be worth trying Tim's idea of the clip test (Page 2), it would isolate a few possibilities as to when the contamination is occurring, or whether it's on the film to begin with.
Do you source all your film from the same supplier? Store it in the same place?
You mention that you've tried loading in various places - Do you use a changing bag? The same one in each case?

When you find out what this is, please do post it.

All the best,

Frank

Cheryl Jacobs · Dec 29, 2006

Thanks, Frank. I hate that you think I might not be perfect now. LOL!

My film (and Bob's) come from several different sources and have been from countless batches. It's stored in a variety of places, including some of it in my office a few miles away. I don't use a changing bag, as I have two black-as-midnight rooms to load it in.

You can see why I'm so frustrated!

- CJ

streaks on negatives

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