Are these water marks on my negatives?

[reellifeross]

Hey everyone,

I seem to be getting marks like this every now and then on my negatives.

It doesn't happen constantly and it might only happen to 1 or 2 frames in a roll if it does happen. Sometime it doesn't happen at all.

 

Details:

Film: Rollei RPX 100 - 120

Developer: HC-110 (1+63) | 20° | 15 min

Stop: Kodak Stop | 1min

Fixer: Ilford Rapid Fixer | 5min

Wash: 10min (running tap water)

Final Wash: Ilfotol 30sec (tap water)

Dry: Hang vertically from clip in bathroom for 3+hrs to dry

 

It looks like it's on the emulsion side of the film.

I have tried mixing new batches of fixer and stop bath. I only use my developer as one shot so it's always fresh.

All chemicals are fairly new and in date.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated. 🙂

[Sandy Vongries]

Try distilled water.  I always used Photo Flo, also might be worth a try

[AJG]

They definitely look like drying marks--mixing PhotoFlo or an equivalent product with distilled water should help.

[reellifeross]

Thanks for the comments. I am using Ilford Ilfoto. It's hard to get PhotoFlo in Australia at the moment (it's pretty hard to get any film related online here at the moment)

Im not currently using distilled water.

Should I use that for the whole wash or just the final wash with the wetting agent? 

I also have a rain water tank would that be any better? 

[SCL]

I'd try using distilled water for the final wash. I also usually, with distilled water, lightly squeegee the hanging film between two fingers. Some people advise against this, but if done quickly and gently I found it significantly reduces the chance of drying marks caused by beads of water.

[reellifeross]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate the help. 

I rewashed some of the negatives I had issues with and it looks like that resolved the issue. So it's my washing/drying method that needs adjusting.

I will get some distilled water for the final wash and give that a go. 🙂