Color negs - scatches

<p>Got them back from the lab - scatches on the reverse side, including between the frames, the last 1/3 of the roll had less scatches. The lab's fault?</p>

Unless its your camera's.

 

Send a couple cheap test rolls to other labs.

<p>Also, this film is Fuji ProS 160, expired October 2008, been in freezer since day 1. </p>

<p>Is this just b/c Epson Scan finds it difficult or is it something else? I also shot some September 2008 expiry Fuji Superia 100 and it came out fine. </p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>I found that my ISO was a bit off, 1 1/3 stop over, usually C41 people over by 2/3 of a stop. Is that difference enough to justify it? I have used Vuescan with auto levels similar look. I have used ProS before but at a diff lab, they were fine.</p>

<p>Scratches are mechanical damage and can have nothing to do with exposure.</p>

<p>I haven't used that film in a while but I may have some still lying around. Yesterday I wat at Unique Photo in Fairfield, NJ and that film is no longer available. I was told. When I did use it I had to rate it at 100 to get properly exposed negatives. </p>

<p>If you can see physical scratches on the film the possible causes are:<br>

1. dirt in the light seal of 35mm cassette.<br>

2. burs or sticking guide rollers in the camera back, 35mm, 120, 220.<br>

3. lab.<br>

Lines in the scan not seen on the film is a dirty scanner.</p>

<p>I would definitely shoot a few test rolls and try some different labs. This should verify if it is at least not the cameras fault.</p>

<p>I have some print film for sometime, I could take one of them load it in, churn thru it and reverse it, pull out with a tool or ask the store and then examine the film right .... if no scratches then it's not me.</p>

<p>Charles summed things up pretty well regarding scratch origins. If you're concerned about the lab, have them develop another roll you don't care about.</p>

<p>As for the photo you posted, what's the problem? It appears to be rather low in contrast and not very saturated. Both of these issues can easily be corrected in post processing. They can also be dealt with using Epson Scan before scanning the images. I have limited experience with Vuescan. I find that I still prefer Epson Scan over Vuescan anyway. Haven't been able to figure out how to get Vuescan to process batch images with each image having its own exposure settings.</p>

<p>It is most likely to be tramline scratches from the roller processor. Even pro labs rarely use dip n dunk tanks for C41 these days and so scratches are the norm now. It could be your camera, it wont be the film cassette if you processed more than one film and got the same scratches. It's almost certainly the lab.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Even pro labs rarely use dip n dunk tanks for C41 these days and so scratches are the norm now.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I gotta disagree that scratches are "the norm now." I don't use pro labs for my negative developing. Mostly I use Costco. Sometimes Walgreens. I can't even recall the last time I got scratched negatives back from the processor. And I'm not prepared to chalk it up to "just dumn luck," either. My luck tends to run the opposite way, in fact.</p>

 

<p>That's incredible to be honest. I got some films processed at Peak Imaging recently and although they were very clean and relatively scratch free, there were still some feint tramline scratches on some images, my film scanner picked them up no problem. As for supermarket processing, I get severe scratching and marks everytime without fail. The only good thing is it's cheap. They did my last 3 rolls free because they were late due to equipment failure. </p>

<p>I guess it's all about how well they keep up their equipment. The techs at Costco are very conscientious about keeping theirs clean and in good order. A properly maintained and functioning processor will <em>not</em> leave marks or scratches on film.</p>