Weird patterns in my scans... film?

[dugrant153]

Hey folks,

So in a few rolls I've been developing, I've been getting this in some of my images (image size magnified to show it... doesn't show up in smaller prints).

Any one have any idea what it is?

 

[bernard_L]

Did you keep the temperatures of the successive baths (dev, stop, fix, wash) within +/-2°C? Looks like reticulation.

 

[nsurit]

IMHO, that exactly what you are looking at in this image. Reticulation from uneven temps in processing. Just be glad it wasn't your cousin's wedding, which is the only time in 50 years it has happened to my film. Bill Barber

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Another vote for reticulation.

 

[Bob Carnie]

reticulation as well

 

[JW PHOTO]

Nah, his scanner glass is cracked! Vote three for reticulation. Some film reticulate with different patterns and some of them look pretty interesting. Yours isn't to darn bad, but I'm sure it's not the "look" you were after. JohnW

 

[cjbecker]

If it shows up in the wet print then worry about it. If only in the scan, then refer to dpug.org

 

[cliveh]

+1, how did you process the film in terms of temperature. This effect is quite difficult to achieve these days.

 

[wildbill]

you've got worms.

 

[bvy]

Are you using ANR glass or one of the Better Scanning tools?

 

[winger]

+1 for reticulation. Could you please post the film type and exact method (and temps) you used to get this in case someone wants to try and replicate it?

 

[illumiquest]

Braaaaiinnnnnssss

 

[gorbas]

What film did you use?

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I would venture to say it is low level reticulation too, and many photographers struggle to get it. Do a Google search of "reticulated prints" and see some extreme versions matched to the subject matter.

 

[dugrant153]

Did you keep the temperatures of the successive baths (dev, stop, fix, wash) within +/-2°C? Looks like reticulation.

I believe there might've been a slight difference in temperatures with the chemicals. I usually check (with a thermometer) the developer to a "t" but the stop bath and fixer are usually ball park (aka use my hand to make sure it's not super cold. Could having the film stored in the fridge just prior to processing have something to do with it?

Just be glad it wasn't your cousin's wedding, which is the only time in 50 years it has happened to my film.

I will keep that in mind!! Most wedding stuff I shoot gets sent to the lab to ensure consistency. Personal stuff is usually in my home dark room.

+1, how did you process the film in terms of temperature. This effect is quite difficult to achieve these days.

If it's temperature differences that causes reticulation, then it could be from me keeping the film in the fridge prior to processing, not checking temps of the stop bath and fixer prior to usage, or maybe the water wash at the end is too hot/cold?

you've got worms.

I thought it was bacteria at first and was like "YIKES! My Ilford HP5 has bacteria?!" It's not like I rubbed the film on cheese prior to the fixer

Are you using ANR glass or one of the Better Scanning tools?

No, no ANR or better scanning tools. I'd like to, though. Would probably make for some slightly sharper negatives?

Could you please post the film type and exact method (and temps) you used to get this in case someone wants to try and replicate it?

Braaaaiinnnnnssss

Well, if you're looking for this braaaaaiiinnnsss look, it's pretty much as I described above... but to be honest, not sure what exactly caused it. I do only "ball park" the temps of the fixer and stop bath and also the wash water... but also ball park the "water wetter" portion at the very end.

Do a Google search of "reticulated prints" and see some extreme versions matched to the subject matter.

I got a photo of a giraffe?

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

[Could having the film stored in the fridge just prior to processing have something to do with it?]

Really? Just before processing?? Yes, that could have quite a lot to do with it.

 

[gone]

Yep, it was the film in the fridge thing. That's about the only way you'll get that sort of temperature difference these days. Everything has to be the same temp, film included.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

So what you effectively have right at the film surface where development occurs is a large thermal gradient, just what you need to cause reticulation.

 

[dugrant153]

Ah, well that makes sense. I usually let the film sit and warm up to room temperature but I guess it's going to take more than just a few minutes to get it to fully "settle in" before developing.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Reticulation

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited

 

[AgX]

Yep, it was the film in the fridge thing. That's about the only way you'll get that sort of temperature difference these days. Everything has to be the same temp, film included.

By the time the processing starts the thin film will be substantially warmed up.

Reticulation is a effect described for swollen emulsion. I doubt it would happen with dry film inserted in warmer bath. But did not try that yet.

 

[bvy]

No, no ANR or better scanning tools. I'd like to, though. Would probably make for some slightly sharper negatives?

It's taboo territory, but I would say you're splitting hairs. You'll need to upgrade your scanner by at least one order of magnitude (in cost) to see any real gains in sharpness or resolution. I find it easier, certainly more rewarding, to print. And prints are much easier to scan.

 

[L Gebhardt]

My guess is the wash water was much colder than the fixer. That was, I'm pretty sure, the cause the only time I ever had reticulation. Around here this time of year my cold water is very cold, around 5C. That is cold enough to reticulate film from what I've read.

 

[Simon R Galley]

It takes a great deal more than a 'few degrees' difference to cause reticulation on any modern emulsion.

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology

 

[sly]

My understanding (and experience) is that modern films are pretty impervious to reticulation. For the last 10 years my darkroom has been in an outbuilding, with only cold running water. I plug in the kettle and get chems up to temperature (but only the dev with accuracy, the others are just 'not icy'). The wash water is coming right from the well, and is cold year round. I've never seen reticulation. Very curious why it would have happened to dugrant.