Vertical lines in home developed 35mm negatives

[jose_lucero1]

<p>Hello guys, I'm new here. I've been shooting and developing black and white film for about six months now. The developer I have available in my country is D-76 and I've developed 13 rolls of different films so far. I like the results I'm getting but on my last 2 rolls on some of the images I'm getting this weird vertical line across it. This two rolls where shot with an Olympus 35SP with a Tiffen Yellow Filter.<br>

I dont know what's happening here. Could it be a developing issue? One roll was FP4 Plus and the other HP5 Plus. Could it be a camera issue or a defective filter? One of my guesses is that the filter wasn't tight enough and it got some light leaked.<br>

Thank you very much for your input, it's really frustrating to see a photo I like get ruined by this and fixing it in post processing is not always that easy.<br>

Regards,<br>

Jose from Guatemala<br>

<img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5567/30564614783_f5dd0f7cb2_k.jpg" alt="" /></p><div></div>

[john_shriver]

<p>Certainly has nothing to do with the filter, or with the lens or shutter of the camera.<br>

Is there a mechanical crease in the film at the point of that discontinuity? That would cause uneven development.<br>

It could be a light leak in the camera. If you haven't replaced the light seals around the door of that camera, and they are sticky goo, they could be the problem. The indication would be that the dark area on the negative (light in this scan) would extend into the perforated margins of the film.</p>

[SCL]

<p>Are you sure you're properly loading the film onto the reels and giving them proper agitation? It looks like either a light seal problem or a kink in the film.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>Perhaps the tank simply sat too long at some point without agitation? Perhaps also with too little developer in the tank?</p>

[thirteenthumbs]

<p>Does the line go into the rebate/sprocket hole area or is it confined to the image area?<br>

Was there any pauses during pouring the developer in/out? Do you reuse the developer or do you use it one shot?<br>

What tank/reel system are you using?</p>

[User_502260]

<p>If these were shot with a camera which has a horizontal shutter then I would blame the shutter. The 35SP has a leaf shutter. Could it be a light leak? Could the rewind lever have been turned in the wrong direction?</p>

[johne37179]

<p>This Olympus has a leaf shutter, so it is not a shutter issue. I'm with those who suspect an issue in development. Are you sufficiently agitating during development? This looks like a chemical issue instead of a light issue to me.</p>

[chuck909]

<p>I have never seen a light leak like that. Did the film go through an airport x-ray machine?<br>

A view of the entire negative would help.</p>

[randy_cooprider1]

Agree that the lines look like mechanical position of the film in the tank was non uniform. Was the reel completely dry?

[jose_lucero1]

<p>Thank you very much for all your answers.</p>

<p>To add some more information, the line runs across the whole frame, including the data. It just happens on some of the frames, not all of them. I'm using a Paterson tank and a plastic reel with the steel bearings. Sometimes it can get stuck, bending the film. I'm using 390ml of developer as per the Paterson tank instructions, but I could add more developer to the tank. How much more should I use?<br>

Usually I do 10 seconds of agitation every 30 seconds or 1 minute of development as suggested by the Massive Dev Chart. It amounts to 5 complete inversions.<br>

After that I use a 1 minute of Kodak Indicator Stop Bath shaken all the time and 5 minutes of Kodak Rapid Fixer shaken every minute.<br>

Any other thing I should Improve in my development technique?<br>

Thanks for all your help!</p>

[bethe_fisher]

<p>Can you feel any type of distortion in the film at the spots where the line shows? If it got bent, it would stay somewhat bent and you should be able to feel it. Add me to the list of long-time film users who have never seen this one before. <br>

I don't think developer amount has anything to do with it as that would have made a line going along the length of the film, not across it.</p>

[thirteenthumbs]

<p>I see 6 bands of different densities including the predominant line in the center. Uneven development? Poor chemical flow inside the tank? Defective reel?</p>

[kirk_strauchler]

<p>Jose if this is only happening on one frame, it's because the end of the roll when spooled curls towards the film below it, obstructing the developer flow in that area. I've had it happen on 120 and 35mm. Solution is as you get to the end of the roll during spooling onto the reel, bend the very edge of the film up so it doesn't curl towards the already spooled film. Very simple solution.</p>

<p>Now, if it's happening to multiple frames on a roll, then it's something else, and you can ignore the above. </p>

[thirteenthumbs]

<p>Kinda hard to ignore the bands or possible causes.</p><div></div>

[kirk_strauchler]

<p>I agree, and all could be caused by obstructed flow of developer. If you follow what I'm saying, the flow of developer will be disrupted all around the area where the trailing edge comes close to, or even touches, the film below.</p>

[thirteenthumbs]

<p>From Jose's second post</p>

<blockquote>

<p>It just happens on some of the frames, not all of them. I'm using a Paterson tank and a plastic reel with the steel bearings. Sometimes it can get stuck, bending the film.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>This suggests that the reel is not loading the film correctly causing buckling throughout the roll or uneven spacing between the ribs of film resulting in uneven developing throughout the roll not just the end.</p>

<p> </p>

[glen_h]

<blockquote>

<p> I'm using 390ml of developer as per the Paterson tank instructions, but I could add more developer to the tank.<br>

</p>

</blockquote>

<p>For stainless steel tanks, it is about 250ml for a 35mm reel, and about 500ml for a 120 reel. <br>

<br>

The Paterson tanks might take a little more than that, and you didn't say which size film you are using. <br>

</p>

[James G. Dainis]

<I>"I'm using 390ml of developer as per the Paterson tank instructions, but I could add more developer to the tank.</I>"<P>

 

Either you made a typo in your post or you are reading wrong. On the bottom of my two reel Paterson tank it says:<P>

 

Each film uses<BR>

35mm or 126 = 290 ml 10 oz<BR>

127 = 370 ml 13 oz<BR>

120/220 = 500 ml 17 oz<BR>

[mark_tate]

<p>No it is not the filter that is for certain.<br>

Looks to be a developing issue, maybe not enough developer in the tank but I doubt that TBH. <br>

What dilution developer ? maybe to strong or to hot, this can cause uneven development and it is something I see a lot of on this and other forums. One of the thumb photos at the bottom of this page right now is also showing uneven development. <br>

I used to use FP4 many years ago with ID11 developer ( Ilford brand D76) and did have some problems with uneven development, I found it much more reliable you use a 3:1 dilution at 20 deg C, I forget the development times though soz, been a lot of years since I have used that film and developer combination. <br>

Just something else to look at and make sure it is actually on the film and not a problem with your scanner as this can also cause similar looking effects and is rather common. <br>

It is possible you have a light leak in your camera but I doubt it TBH. </p>