Strips of emulsion on Negatives

[Tim Gray]

Got a question for you. I wish I could show you a picture, but I don't have access to a digicam or a scanner. Anyway, I've been dev'ing my own B&W for a couple months on Hewes stainless reels in a stainless tank. I've been using Diafine and XTol, followed by Ilford Rapid Fix, HCA, the Ilford wash technique, a couple minute wash in running water, and finally a 30 sec rinse in Photoflo.

I usually get 2 strips of emulsion that never get fixed away or something where the negative touches the reel's spiral rail. It usually only happens for the first 10-15 frames on the inner part of the spiral. I don't think its an agitation issue because I'm pretty vigorous with that during fixing. Am I doing something wrong? Should I even care?

This happens with fresh fixer as well - my clearing time is usually on the order of 45 secs and I fix for about 2.5 mins.

 

[ann]

without an image this is a quess.

perhaps the film is touching and is not getting the full treatment,

this is very common with ss reels and beginners.

 

[Tim Gray]

It is definitely where the film is touching the reel. The lines cut right through the frame numbers and the film make. I would definitely agree that the film is not getting the full treatment there (mind you the picture are is fine and very printable). I was curious to know what I could do to fix it or if I should even worry about it.

 

[Steve Smith]

I sometimes get this and I'm sure it's where the film is touching the reel. As it is not in the image area, I don't care about it.

If you want to remove it, take the film off of the reel and put it back into fixer for a little while.


Steve.

 

[ann]

ah, you mean there is a uneven lines along the edges of the film?

that is very common.

i was thinking there were parts of the film touching so nothing was being developed leaving all sorts of strange marks.

i wouldn't worry about it if it is along the edge

as long as the film has been fixed and washed properly

 

[ben-s]

I've had this happen with one reel - a plastic Photax one.
It's a patterson style reel, but is (so they say) "specially designed to avoid foaming of the solutions"
It leaves unfxed blocks along the film, whatever the agitation pattern.
I only use this tank/reel combination when my main one is still wet, so it's not really often a problem, but I take the film off the reel, and drop it back in the fix for a couple of minutes.
The white spots annoy me

 

[timeUnit]

I have them as well. I don't worry about it either.

 

[bdial]

As long as it's only on the edges, it is nothing to truly worry about. As others have noted, it is very common pretty much to the degree of being normal. In that it's only happening at the center you might be putting tension on the film so that it is tight to the spiral in that area. Also, the reel must be absolutely dry, otherwise the emulsion will stick.

 

[Tim Gray]

Many thanks!