What just happened?

[semeuse]

I just developed a 35mm roll of Adox CMS20. Totally blank. No edge markings, no leader, nothing - clear base. The roll shot in the same camera before (CHS50) - fine. After (Tmax 400) - fine.
This roll was pre-soaked for a minute or so, as I usually do - however, the wash water came out greenish gray - a color I've never seen before. CMS20 usually pre-washes purplish. I ran it through the developer (Formulary TD3) as normal anyway - 21 minutes, 10 slow inversions every 3. The developer came out clear. 30 second water stop - also clear. Fix for 3 minutes - came out pink. Kinda strange, but not unheard of. And there the film was - completely clear.
All chemistry and water (distilled) was at ambient temperature (78 degrees). The film had been sitting in my camera bag for a couple of weeks before being loaded, but so had the T-max.
Is it possible that the pre-soak washed off the emulsion? I never heard of that. I have developed blank rolls before, but I could always easily see my mistake (like the time I grabbed the new film in the dark - still don't know why I was keeping it there...) - and there was always an exposed leader.
So...any ideas?

 

[Worker 11811]

The two most probable reasons for film to come out blank with no edge markings are either because of bad/exhausted developer or because chemistry got mixed up and fixer was put in the tank when it should have been developer.

 

[pbromaghin]

You are not alone. I asked this same question a few weeks ago!

You put in fixer instead of developer.

That roll had some of the best NBA shots ever taken.

Seriously.

 

[semeuse]

My first thought was that I did the fix mix-up - but it doesn't seem so since everything was in its proper place (anything is possible, of course). I hadn't thought of exhausted developer - I doubt it (TD 3 has a really good shelf life and this is only about a month old in full bottles), but I shall run a quick test.
Thanks -
Kris

 

[pentaxuser]

Based on what you have said it seems unlikely that the dev is so totally exhausted that it doesn't leave even as much as a faint image or faint edge markings.

So as others have said it seems likely that you have done the fix dev sequence rather than dev fix. Most of us have done it at least once despite being as convinced as you are that you didn't.

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

Just so you are clear......

If you put it through first a pre-soak and then a second pre-soak instead of the developer (followed by stop/rinse and fixer), you will end up with the same result as when you put it through fix instead of developer.

Don't ask me how I know ....

 

[semeuse]

well, just did a quick test - snip off some ends of rolls and develop. It was indeed the developer. Absolutely nothing. And just to be sure, I did it again in some fresh D76. Which off course gave me a completely black piece of film. Now I just have to figure out how I killed the TD3 - only a month old...hmmm

at least these weren't real important shots, just some fun down by the bridges and boats - guess I'll have to go back

 

[Worker 11811]

I did it once. Since that time, I became totally OCD about keeping my chems in correct order. I have four containers, each is marked "D," "S," "F," and "H" with indelible paint. I prepare each solution and place them in my water bath in order that they will be used and, when I am done with a particular step, I stack the empty container in the wash compartment of my sink, totally away from the rest so that there will no mistaking the wrong chems, getting them mixed up or pouring a solution into the wrong container.

As much as I pay attention and try not to do it, I just "know" that it probably will happen again.