Scratches on negatives?

<p>Hello<br>

This is my first time posting on this site, and I have a question about the reason for scratches on negatives. I started using film last year, so I am quite new to this sort of photography. The first time I used film, I used expired colour negative film and processed it at Truprint (a mail order developer). These pictures were clean and free of scratches. I have always used the same camera for film (an Olympus OM-1). I have used film twice since and on both occasions many of the pictures had heavy scratches and streaks. These two times I sent the film to a local film processor, and used Agfa Vista 200 (not Vista Plus) colour negative film, bought at Poundland. I am having some trouble in finding why the film is scratched... It could be the processor, or there are defects with the film - I do not know.</p>

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<li>Film being scratched by the camera can be ruled out, as I used the same camera here as the first time (where the pictures were scratch-free), and to confirm, I ran an old roll of film through the camera and took out the film (an unavoidably unpleasant experience!), and the film was completely clear of scratches (please note that this film was not the same film as the Agfa Vista film I have been using (I think this was Boots 200 film)).</li>

<li>Defects in the film could be a possibility, as I paid just £1 for each roll. Perhaps this film is so cheap because it failed quality control at the factory. The two rolls were bought at the same time, from the same shop, and with the same expiry date (November 2017), so they may have both been part of a bad batch.</li>

<li>Or could it be the processing lab? I thought that a local processing lab that takes in film from a number of locations would process to a high standard, but I am not so sure now. Both times, I requested that the negatives are processed, printed and scanned to a CD. If it is not the film, then something is going wrong at one of these stages. Could there be dirt on the rollers in the scanner or developer which are scratching the film? Or could it just be careless handling? The one thing that makes me doubt that it is the processor is the problem is that the two films were processed at different times. The first roll was processed around the 20th February, an<img src="G:\cameras\Film\2%20-%20Agfa%20Vista%20200%20(16.2.16-18.2.16)\JPEG\13.jpg" alt="" />d the third roll was processed around the 10th April. </li>

</ul>

<p>Luckily, the Fuji Velvia film I have just bought for use in the summer will be safe from these scratches either way, as this processing lab does not accept E6 film (speaking of which, can anyone recommence any good E6 film developers?), and Velvia film is not Q.C-failed negative film, bought from Poundland!<br>

<img src="G:\cameras\Film\2%20-%20Agfa%20Vista%20200%20(16.2.16-18.2.16)\JPEG\13.jpg" alt="" />I would appreciate if anyone could say what is the most likely cause for film being scratched. Whatever the reason is, I will probably avoid this Agfa Vista film and spend a bit more on better film.<br>

<img src="G:\cameras\Film\2%20-%20Agfa%20Vista%20200%20(16.2.16-18.2.16)\JPEG\13.jpg" alt="" /></p><div></div>

<p>I speak as a veteran photofinisher. Scratches on negatives are a plague that has been with us since the beginning. The light sensitive goodies for both color and black & white film are imbedded in a layer of transparent gelatin. This is the binder of choice. Unfortunately gelatin is soft when wet and is easily scratched anytime.<br>

<br>

Photofinishers develop film is an automated film processor. This machine transports the film through a series of chemical baths. The transport mechanism consists of a pathway guided by rollers. The culprit is likely the rollers. These can become encrusted with chemicals that crystalize and therefor scratch. Only due diligence to cleanliness and proper equipment maintenance can prevent. <br>

<br>

Scratches also occur when the film is printed. The film is threaded through a negative holder that keeps the film flat during the printing cycle. This film gate and its associated film transport will scratch it not properly adjusted. Same is true for the machinery that automatically cuts the film into manageable stipes. <br>

<br>

Bottom line is, the entire film developing a printing process present dangers that can only be mitigated by due diligence. Despite best efforts, some scratches are likely. </p>

Like Alan, I also have some photofinishing experience, but I think we came about it from different directions - I was a shooter first and got

involved in lab work to learn about the "black art" of color processing. Back then, we ran miles of 70mm film everyday, strictly our own work,

and that's where I learned a great deal about process control and troubleshooting.

Anyway, looking at your last image ( the only one I can see), I really think that it is not scratches, but rather what we used to call "stabilizer

scum." I would try wiping a small area of unimportant film, on the "base" (shiny) side with an appropriate cloth to see if it comes off (you

might want to try a small amount of alcohol on the cloth). If the film comes clean this would prove that it is not actually scratched.

However, the "scum" would still be a problem with your processor.

<p><em>Dirt</em> on the film - I never thought of that! Looking at the negatives, the marks do look more like dirt than scratches - they also look too thick and randomly distributed to be scratches. I also noticed that throughout the negatives, there are a number of C-shaped marks (though they are only present on the 3rd film; not seen in the picture above). <br>

So the problem must be with the processor then. This is sad because it is local business that needs to be supported, though I probably won't use them again if their service is not up to scratch (no pun intended!).<br>

Thank you for your useful advice and fast responses, everyone!</p>

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<p>Years ago, when I was able to do my own 35mm processing, occasionally I would notice these 'C' shaped marks, and eventually discovered they had been caused when feeding the film into the spiral, when it had bent slightly. I realise that commercial processors use a totally different system for loading and processing film, but is there a possibility that the film itself has been physically damaged in this way ?<br>

Tony</p>