• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Why is "KODAK" stamped on my film!??

Dusty Negative

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Mar 25, 2019
Messages
596
Location
Virginia
Format
Medium Format
OK, I am still a relative newbie when it comes to film, and have never seen this before. Thankfully. I'm perplexed as to why the word "KODAK" is stamped on my film!!?? See below the model's chin, left cheek, and shoulder. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN!??

 
It's on the backing paper. Kodak had problems with this last year.

Jim B.
 
If it is 120 have a look at your backing paper.
 
As in, it transferred from the backing paper on to the emulsion?? Oh, man....
 
I presume this was 120 film? Any idea what vintage? I was under the impression that Kodak had conquered their wrapper transfer problems -- but that's what you're seeing. Something in the printing on the backing paper is fogging the emulsion where they touch. It'll happen in slightly different locations for each transferred imprint, because the film is wrapped on a different radius on the supply vs the takeup -- hence the two "Kodak" names appearing close together near the model's chin.

The good news is, the can only happen with 120 film (all other backing-paper formats are long obsolete at Kodak).
 
It is called wrapper offset. The ink on the backing paper reacted with the emulsion on the film, causing that emulsion to increase in sensitivity.
Kodak had problems with this when they were forced to go to third party suppliers for the backing paper.
How old is your film, and what is the batch number.
 
Assuming you shot this on Kodak film, it looks like the backing paper imposed its numbering on the emulsion. Hence why you can see "KODAK 2" inverted scrolling up the model's cheek.
This was a problem Kodak had with backing paper on some runs of 120, although the last I heard it was corrected by now.

If you tell us what film type and date of manufacture you are using, I am sure some of the more knowledgeable members can tell you if this was part of the affected batch.
 

2017. Freestyle was out of anything newer. There are happy accidents, and then there are other accidents.
 
Does Kodak still warrant their film against defects? Seems to me they owe you a replacement for all the film you have from that batch...
 
Wow. All this newfangledy film stuff.

Thank you for the info!
 
Does Kodak still warrant their film against defects? Seems to me they owe you a replacement for all the film you have from that batch...

I'll give it a shot, but I doubt they'll honor from 2017. This was an old box that Freestyle sent me after everyone else cleaned them out.
 

Sure. 12/2017. 0931 011.

Maybe I can donate the two rolls I have left to the Art League here for practice.
 
Also check back with Freestyle, they are an excellent company, this is not a normal routine for them.
 

Thank you MattKing. I am reading through the thread now. Very interesting. I searched for "Kodak stamp" originally, not having the slightest idea what I was looking at, and thinking perhaps it was some kind of stamp for practice film (funny, I know, but my thought was: why else would a manufacturer of film put their name all over the emulsion??? ;-) Now I know this beast has a name. Thank you for pointing me in the right APUG direction.
 
Also check back with Freestyle, they are an excellent company, this is not a normal routine for them.

Yikes. CORRECTION HERE. It was Photo Warehouse, not Freestyle. Boo on me.
 
It's on the backing paper. Kodak had problems with this last year.

Jim B.

correction: last 5 years.

Backing paper, a rocket science that Foma mastered 50 years ago. Kodak still can’t figure it out.

Quite pathetic.
 
That sounds like the best explanation, still never figured out exactly what the weird reaction was. Had lots of theories.
 
If you write to Kodak I'm sure they will send you replacement film with the new (shiney) backing paper. They did for me when I had mottling issues on some TMax 400 due to the old backing paper type.
 
Hi Dusty Negative
I'd contact kodak alaris for the film, and I am guessing
they would like to know which stores still, inadvertently have old film stock and don't realize it.

goodluck !
John