What are these marks on my negatives?

C7R92 · Jun 17, 2022

Hi Photrio! I've been developing my own film for about a year now but in the last two months or so I've been getting these weird marks on the side of my frames (see image). This only happens with medium format, is always on the same side of the image, and it happens probably about 50% of the time. I know it's not the camera because I have a few different cameras and it has happened with all of them. I thought that it might be an insufficient amount of chemistry so I've been putting 600ml in my Patterson tank (about a 100ml more than what is required) but that hasn't made a difference. Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Jay

Doremus Scudder · Jun 17, 2022

Classic low-density area caused by bubbles clinging to the film at the top of the tank or not quite enough developer in the tank to cover the film.

Check to make sure that the amount of developer you are using covers the film reel completely and that your reel isn't inching upward during the development (some systems have this latter problem).

Then, when developing, make sure to rap the tank on the countertop after each agitation cycle to dislodge the bubbles that may form.

Also, be sure to clean the tank and reel well after developing, especially if you use wetting agent like Photo Flo in the tank. If you have plastic reels especially, Photo Flo can leave a residue that causes foaming and inhibits development.

That should clear up your problems.

Doremus

Sirius Glass · Jun 17, 2022

Doremus Scudder said:
Classic low-density area caused by bubbles clinging to the film at the top of the tank or not quite enough developer in the tank to cover the film.

Check to make sure that the amount of developer you are using covers the film reel completely and that your reel isn't inching upward during the development (some systems have this latter problem).

Then, when developing, make sure to rap the tank on the countertop after each agitation cycle to dislodge the bubbles that may form.

Also, be sure to clean the tank and reel well after developing, especially if you use wetting agent like Photo Flo in the tank. If you have plastic reels especially, Photo Flo can leave a residue that causes foaming and inhibits development.

That should clear up your problems.

Doremus

What he said. I use a thick block of soft linoleum or rubber to thump my tanks on. I remove the film from the reel and put the film in a different container with PhotoFlo. That way the PhotoFlo does not get on my reels.

C7R92 · Jun 17, 2022

Thank you for your answers! I was thinking that it may have been bubbles. I will definitely wash my reels and tanks more thoroughly and try your other suggestions and see if that helps!

MattKing · Jun 17, 2022

On the subject of developer volume - which I don't think is your problem here - it is also important not to over-fill the tank. There needs to be some air space above the fluid in order to ensure effective agitation with inversion agitation.
The developer needs to tumble and gurgle through the reels.

AnselMortensen · Jun 17, 2022

Are you using multiple plastic reels in your tank?
I've seen those marks happen when a second reel is pushed down too hard on the first...it is best to have the reels barely touching each other to avoid distorting the plastic reels.

gone · Jun 17, 2022

There's a C clip on my tank that prevents the reels from inching up on the hollow shaft. It may be that, and as mentioned, make sure you bang the tank smartly every now and then to dislodge any bubbles. I use a few washcloths folded over each other, you just want to avoid banging it hard against a hard Formica counter top.

Warm water, dish soap and a toothbrush should clean the reels up nicely.

C7R92 · Jun 17, 2022

AnselMortensen said:
Are you using multiple plastic reels in your tank?
I've seen those marks happen when a second reel is pushed down too hard on the first...it is best to have the reels barely touching each other to avoid distorting the plastic reels.

I'm using one of the smaller Patterson tanks so it only fits one reel for medium format. I have done two reels of 35mm in it before but I've never had the issue with 35mm.

C7R92 · Jun 17, 2022

momus said:
There's a C clip on my tank that prevents the reels from inching up on the hollow shaft. It may be that, and as mentioned, make sure you bang the tank smartly every now and then to dislodge any bubbles. I use a few washcloths folded over each other, you just want to avoid banging it hard against a hard Formica counter top.

Warm water, dish soap and a toothbrush should clean the reels up nicely.

Thanks for the suggestion on how to clean the reels. Just finished cleaning them up. I shot a test roll through a new camera today so I'm going to develop that roll tomorrow and fingers crossed I've eliminated the issue!

Dennis S · Jun 17, 2022

When I load my Patterson with 2x 35mm rolls I use 600ml which covers them all and leaves room to agitate comfortably. Maybe I am over doing it by 100ml but too little caused me problems years ago so if something works, I see truly little reason to change.

What are these marks on my negatives?

C7R92

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What are these marks on my negatives?

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