austin_harned Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>I bought a 100ft roll of FomaPam 100 and hand rolled reloadable cartridges. Some rolls are perfectly fine with very little or no scratches at all while others have TONS of scratches. I develop them myself so it can't be from lab equiptment. They are not straight lines either. I will upload some pictures to better describe. Don't mine the dust and lint, it was just a quick scan of them. And, the photos were taken with an old Nikon F<br /> Thanks for any help determining the cause!!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leighb Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>Check for dirt/grit in the cassette light trap felt.</p> <p>- Leigh</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austin_harned Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 Heres another photo http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/194/scan10079k.jpg/ http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4061/scan10079k.jpg Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/url Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austin_harned Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>If there was sand in the felt wouldn't it cause straight horizontal lines? These scratches are going evvvverywhere.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leighb Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>That image is way too dark to see anything.</p> <p>How about posting one with a bit more normal tonal range?</p> <p>- Leigh</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austin_harned Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>The attached photo at the top is lighter than the second. This attached photo has tons of scratches everywhere.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrydressler Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>What was the exp date on the fomapan. They had a recall on a batch.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austin_harned Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>It was Fomapan ISO 100. And, it already expired in Novemeber of 2011. Hmmm since its expired could that have caused it? I bought it in November for only $18 and it has all been refridgerated since.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrydressler Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>Was it the stuff from Freestyle? That was the stuff that was recalled in a way... The new stuff is better....</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javi_l1 Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>Did you load the cartridges yourself? Is it at the end or at the beginning of the roll? The picture in the fridge shows at least two greasy finger prints too!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austin_harned Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>Yes, it was from freestlye. So it most likely came from the factory all scratched like that?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austin_harned Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>I did roll the cartridges myself. And its never at one certain spot in the roll. It could be everywhere or in certain spots or just in the middle.<br> And, it has fingerprints because I can't use the negatives with scratches so I didn't handle them specially.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirteenthumbs Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>A common bulk loading mistake is to leave the loader in the "open" position that allows one to open the cassette door. Failing to "close" the loader after the cassette door has been closed will result in scratches that run the length of the frame as well as between frames.<br> The samples you posted looks like it was dropped on the floor, walked on for a while, kicked around, picked up, wiped off (with a scotch brite?), then packaged.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austin_harned Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>I didnt use a bulk loader to load the film. I just loaded it by hand in a darkroom bag.<br> I know, it looks awful. Some rolls/frames a good and clean while others look like a cat got to it!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrydressler Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>I think that was the bad stuff Freestyle sold for $18.00 a roll. ... Toss it... and learn that you get what you pay for. But yes if you use a Watson type loader that can happen but it is mostly straight lines.... You could resell it to LOMO people. :)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austin_harned Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 <p>Lol no offense to the lomography crowd, but they would love this film!!<br> I think I just need to stay with tri-x or Tmax</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas_k. Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 <p>Off topic: I like your scratched negative fridge photo - do not trash it, keep it, it's interesting.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_kervarec Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 <p>Hi Austin<br> I worked in a lab for 20 years and agree with Charles. This damage is consistent with heavy pressure and dragging such as people walking on the film on the floor or film being pushed along a desk or lightbox and even caught in a machine and dragged for a short distance.<br> While there is a lot of random damage there is also some damage that looks consistent. If I were to give an opinion on this, I would say it was damaged before you received the film.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterbcarter Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 <p>These scratches do *not* look like they came with the film. It is beyond me how freestyle or foma could be blamed for this.</p> <p>I use bulk foma 100 all the time and never have these problems. It is a soft film, so it is easily scratched by bad handling. I think you are getting busted on a bunch of little things. Anything "FILM" rewards good consistent habits.</p> <p>1) Get a bulk loader! You may even find a free one on Craig's list. Even then, they are not that expensive. Lower the chances of your handling errors.</p> <p>2) Inspect your carts. When doubt, pitch them. They are cheap to replace.</p> <p>3) Get a can of air or a squeeze bulb. Blow out the cartridges before you load them.</p> <p>4) If you use tongs, make sure they are wet before you use. Only use enough pressure to close the tongs as any more will scratch. Resist the urge for a second pass; one is enough.</p> <p>5) Make sure your fixer has a hardener. This is soft film.</p> <p>6) Start wearing lint free gloves. Your finger prints are a dead give away. Also wash your hands just before you handle film. It will remove a lot of body oil from your hands.</p> <p>7) All film will have crud on them, at some point. Isopropol is the only product I know of that will remove finger prints. Use a micro fiber cloth.....gently and only if you have to.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_shearman1 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 <p>"I didnt use a bulk loader to load the film. I just loaded it by hand in a darkroom bag."<br />That sounds like the answer to me. At the very least you had a pair of scissors, a film can and a cartridge inside the bag, all of which have sharp edges that can scratch film and all within a very confined space where the film is being manipulated by hand. Maybe even a ring or watch if you were wearing them. I would expect it to be difficult even to keep the 100-foot roll from unspooling in that situation, and how did you measure the right length of film? I agree with Peter. Get a bulk loader if you plan on doing this going forward.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_robison3 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 <p>Looks like rough handling while still wet. Wet emulsion is very soft and is easy to scratch.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie_robertson2 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 <p>If you have some film left on the bulk roll, pull off a strip and develop it. If it's not scratched then you know it's something you've done rather than the film being scratched during manufacture.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy_d Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 <p>Could be the film itslef, some films scratch very easily. Also could be the pressure plate, in your camera, doing the scratching.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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