Yellow banding streaks on developed film

1kgcoffee · Jul 24, 2017

So I scanned some film multiple times, and consistently getting these banding yellow streaks on this negative. It's quite annoying as it ruins an otherwise good image. What is the cause so I can avoid it in future? Keep in mind that this is 120 film so no sprocket holes from which to have bromide drag.

The film is portra 400 and it was intentionally overexposed three stops. I did not have this issue on similarly exposed and processed film.

Thanks in advance,

MattKing · Jul 24, 2017

Are they visible on the negative. If not, it is likely the scanner and software doing its best to cope with the over-exposure.

Rudeofus · Jul 25, 2017

These yellow streaks in 120 roll film format color negatives are a common occurrence with 2-bath C-41 kits. The reason is carryover color developer reacting with BLIX. The best way to avoid them is by using an Acetic Acid based stop bath and two or three quick wash cycles between CD and BLIX step.

1kgcoffee · Jul 25, 2017

I'm not so sure now because I can't really see it in the negative by the lines seem very subtle in the final image and that is with the contrast and saturation turned up. Also it was scanned from the positive side of the film if that makes a difference.

Good to know about the stop bath. I have been using a water stop bath lately just for a minute but it's better to use acidic?

Rudeofus · Jul 26, 2017

A water stop bath basically requires running water, which is unlikely the case in color processing. Note, that C-41 color developer is very active, so even in diluted form you are liable to streaking if you just empty you tank and fill it with water. In theory any stop bath should do, but PhotoEngineer, albeit unable to name a specific reason, advised against Citric Acid stop bathes. That's why I recommended Acetic Acid.

Kino · Jul 26, 2017

Not disputing that yellow streaks are an issue with C41, but I am pretty sure this instance is the scanner, not a film processing defect.

Looks like a flatbed scanner was used and it was on some automatic color temperature compensation setting that varied color temp in that band of sampling.

If you can, try turning and scanning the negative 90 degrees to the direction it was originally scanned and see if the problems return in the same spot and along the same axis.

I'll bet they don't...

zanxion72 · Jul 26, 2017

The fact that these streaks appear at equal spaces throughout the entire frame, indicates a scanning issue (banding). Try what Kino says. With my Epson V600 I prefer Vuescan for 120 colour films because it does less aggressive optimizations than easyscan resulting to almost no banding.

Yellow banding streaks on developed film

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