Stupid processing error? What is this?

[Mike Evangelist]

I imagine it's just some stupid mistake on my part, but I'm wondering what might cause the mottled look on the right part of the frame. (It's Tri-X in D76 1:1).

 

[Alex Muir]

If it's the same on all frames, it might be caused by your developer foaming in the tank. Did you notice any bubbles when you poured out the developer?

Alex.

 

[Mike Evangelist]

It is the same on the whole roll. I didn't particularly notice any bubbles/foam, but the tank did seem to 'slosh' more than usual when I was inverting it. Maybe I didn't have quite enough developer in the tank.

 

[Rudeofus]

Maybe I didn't have quite enough developer in the tank.

That would be my first guess. Can you somehow find out whether this pattern occurred on that side of your film which was at the top of your tank?

 

[removed account4]

hi mike

do youfill your tank all the way up or put the minimum amount in ( or to just cover the rolls )?
i have made mistakes where i didn't put enough developer and got "the line" ( like you have, but no mottling )
never had foamy developer though ... looks like a nice look / trick up your sleeve if you could control it.

good luck !
john

 

[Mike Evangelist]

looks like a nice look / trick up your sleeve if you could control it.

 

[Mike Evangelist]

Double-checking the capacity of my tank, I see it specifies 1 liter for 2 rolls of 120. I very cleverly used 32 ounces of developer. Oops. (luckily they were just test rolls for a newly acquired camera.)

 

[winger]

When I got my reels and tanks, I put the reel(s) in and added water to just above the reel. Then I poured it into the beaker I use to measure the developer and marked a line with a sharpie (the industrial super permanent one), then wrote which tank and reel next to the line. I've never relied on what the tank had printed on it or inside the cap or wherever. Or truly relied on the accuracy of the beaker.
So, while I've made many other goofs, this at least eliminated one. Hopefully. (yeah, I know I could still make and pour the wrong amount, but I do tend to triple check everything before pouring chemicals into the tank - holdover from being a chemist, I suppose)

 

[Rick A]

When I got my reels and tanks, I put the reel(s) in and added water to just above the reel. Then I poured it into the beaker I use to measure the developer and marked a line with a sharpie (the industrial super permanent one), then wrote which tank and reel next to the line. I've never relied on what the tank had printed on it or inside the cap or wherever. Or truly relied on the accuracy of the beaker.
So, while I've made many other goofs, this at least eliminated one. Hopefully. (yeah, I know I could still make and pour the wrong amount, but I do tend to triple check everything before pouring chemicals into the tank - holdover from being a chemist, I suppose)

+1 Great minds think alike Bethe. When i first started processing film, I labeled my tanks with the amount, used my dad's Dymo labeler.