What have I done wrong: strange artifact on some frames..

[wanderer_68]

hello everybody,
I just finished scanning a roll of Portra 160 (home processed with Bellini C41 kit in stainless steel tank).
Some of my pictures have this very strange artifact:

So the question for me is what have I done wrong during the C41 process?
Thanks in advance for your answers and your help
I wish you a good afternoon
Alain

 

[thedancefloor]

Maybe the film wasn't spooled onto the spools perfectly?

 

[Ian Grant]

Looks like some kind of contamination. Just check it is fully bleach-fixed.

Maybe the film wasn't spooled onto the spools perfectly?

If that was the case, and the film was touching on the spiral, you would get the exact opposite.

Ian

 

[wanderer_68]

Maybe the film wasn't spooled onto the spools perfectly?

Looks like some kind of contamination. Just check it is fully bleach-fixed.



If that was the case, and the film was touching on the spiral, you would get the exact opposite.

Ian

Ok, how do I check if it's fully bleach/fixed? What would be the indicator it is not the case?
could it be that my chemistry is getting too old?
I openned it about 3 weeks ago.
I did already 12 rolls with the first bottle of developper and I bought a second on on which I did 9 rolls (this one is number 9).
So the Bleach and the fixer have been use to process 21 rolls so far...

Thank you very much in advance for your answers

 

[Ian Grant]

If it's the bleach/fix there could be silver left in the emulsion, on drying and scanning this will darken. Try re-bleaching, increase the time, then re-fix.

Ian

 

[wanderer_68]

If it;'s the bleach/fix there could be silver left in the emulsion, on drying and scanning this will darken. Try re-bleaching, increase the time, then re-fix.

Ian

Ok, I will try and I'll let you know

 

[wanderer_68]

If it's the bleach/fix there could be silver left in the emulsion, on drying and scanning this will darken. Try re-bleaching, increase the time, then re-fix.

Ian

So, I just tried, I double the times recommended by Bellini and nothing changed...
Could it be bubbles during the development time?

 

[MattKing]

It could be a light leak.

 

[Ian Grant]

No it is not air bubbles, as I said initially it looks like some kind of contamination. As Matt says it could be a light leak, or possible stray light from an LED in the darkroom.

Ian

 

[wanderer_68]

No it is not air bubbles, as I said initially it looks like some kind of contamination. As Matt says it could be a light leak, or possible stray light from an LED in the darkroom.

Ian

For the light leak, I doubt it. I don't have a light room and I use a charging bag. And do that in a room with very low light.
And not from the camera as I have processed another film I shoot with it (film was shot after the one with issues)
So probably a contamination indeed...
I will process anothe roll later and see what is going on...

 

[BrianShaw]

I, too, have been seeing some similar artifacts lately with 120 Kodak Gold 200 and commercial processing. It's not regular but seems to be 1 frame per roll. And it too often seems to be the "best frame". Light leaks have been discounted and I'm in the process of eliminating weird glare from a spot on my lens hood where the black wore down to bare metal... which I think is a long shot but I'm out of guesses.