Common issues
Here is the list of some common issues one could encounter when developing films. The list is, by no means, exhaustive and definitive. It only serves as a quick reference for troubleshooting. The aim is to point you in the hopefully direction so you don't have to keep scratching your head in frustration and looking for issues in the wrong places.
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Symptom: Negatives appear thin and light; prints are faint with low contrast.
Causes: Insufficient development time, low developer temperature, or exhausted chemicals.
Prevention: Check developer freshness, use correct temperature and timing.
Symptom: Negatives are very dark and dense; prints have high contrast and loss of detail.
Causes: Too long development time, high temperature, or overactive chemicals.
Prevention: Follow recommended development time and temperature.
Symptom: Streaks, blotches, or uneven density across the film.
Causes: Insufficient agitation during development or uneven chemical distribution.
Prevention: Agitate the tank gently and consistently during development.
Symptom: Spots or streaks on negatives after drying.
Causes: Water marks from hard water or improper drying.
Prevention: Use distilled water for the final rinse and a wetting agent; dry film in a dust-free area.
Symptom: Thin, straight lines running through the image.
Causes: Scratches from rough handling or dirty equipment.
Prevention: Handle film carefully and ensure all equipment is clean and free of debris.
Symptom: Cracked or wrinkled emulsion, resembling a network of lines.
Causes: Sudden temperature changes during processing (reticulation).
Prevention: Maintain consistent temperatures for all chemical baths and washes.
Symptom: Overall gray or hazy negatives.
Causes: Film fogged by light leaks or expired film.
Prevention: Store film properly, check for light leaks, and use fresh film.
Symptom: Small, round, clear spots on negatives.
Causes: Air bubbles (air bells) sticking to film during development.
Prevention: Tap the tank gently after pouring in developer to dislodge bubbles.
Symptom: Colored or dark stains on negatives.
Causes: Incomplete washing or fixer residue.
Prevention: Wash film thoroughly after fixing; use hypo clearing agent if needed.
Symptom: Bright, irregular patches or streaks on negatives.
Causes: Light leaks during loading, processing, or storage.
Prevention: Load and unload film in subdued light; check tanks and cassettes for leaks.
Symptom: Negatives appear thin and light; prints are faint with low contrast.
Causes: Insufficient development time, low developer temperature, or exhausted chemicals.
Prevention: Check developer freshness, use correct temperature and timing.
Symptom: Negatives are very dark and dense; prints have high contrast and loss of detail.
Causes: Too long development time, high temperature, or overactive chemicals.
Prevention: Follow recommended development time and temperature.
Symptom: Streaks, blotches, or uneven density across the film.
Causes: Insufficient agitation during development or uneven chemical distribution.
Prevention: Agitate the tank gently and consistently during development.
Symptom: Spots or streaks on negatives after drying.
Causes: Water marks from hard water or improper drying.
Prevention: Use distilled water for the final rinse and a wetting agent; dry film in a dust-free area.
Symptom: Thin, straight lines running through the image.
Causes: Scratches from rough handling or dirty equipment.
Prevention: Handle film carefully and ensure all equipment is clean and free of debris.
Symptom: Cracked or wrinkled emulsion, resembling a network of lines.
Causes: Sudden temperature changes during processing (reticulation).
Prevention: Maintain consistent temperatures for all chemical baths and washes.
Symptom: Overall gray or hazy negatives.
Causes: Film fogged by light leaks or expired film.
Prevention: Store film properly, check for light leaks, and use fresh film.
Symptom: Small, round, clear spots on negatives.
Causes: Air bubbles (air bells) sticking to film during development.
Prevention: Tap the tank gently after pouring in developer to dislodge bubbles.
Symptom: Colored or dark stains on negatives.
Causes: Incomplete washing or fixer residue.
Prevention: Wash film thoroughly after fixing; use hypo clearing agent if needed.
Symptom: Bright, irregular patches or streaks on negatives.
Causes: Light leaks during loading, processing, or storage.
Prevention: Load and unload film in subdued light; check tanks and cassettes for leaks.