4 Attachment(s)
Development problem, had been the fixer outdated or too little?
Hi, I just developed six sheets of T-Max 100 in a Jobo CPE 2, with the six sheet reel. Don't know the name or number...
This is the reel:
Attachment 175322
Anyway, I used X-Tol 1:1 at 20 degrees for 8m:45s, citric acid with water as stop bath for about a minute and 1+4 tetenal superfix plus as fixer for about four minutes.
Nothing much differnent as the last time, which is half a year ago (and another year the time before... ).
The first two slides came out perfectly fine, the next two seemed a bid cloudy to me, but when I saw the last ones, I know there is something off.
Here the slides in the same order:
Attachment 175323Attachment 175324Attachment 175325
to be continued in the next post...
3 Attachment(s)
Re: Development problem, had been the fixer outdated or too little?
the next three images:
Attachment 175326Attachment 175328Attachment 175327
they are in the order, I took them out of the reel. The three in the first post, had been on one side. First outermost, second in the middle, third most inner slot.
The images in the second post, same order first outside and so on...
The last two images are completely cloudy, nothing to see on it. The middle two of them seem to be a bit foggy, but could be ok, as the border is quite clear. And the first two look really fine. except from the lower boarder of the first, which touched the plastic thingis, you have to add for flow maintainance or whatever...
All the images had been taken in last October and had been stored in the film holder in the camera bag. So no different treatment here.
My guess now, is the newly used fixer didn't do it's job properly on them, as the boarder as well is fogged. Or maybe it got light leaked. But on both shots? Had been on the same location, though.
Somebody any other ideas? I am worried, I did not fix them enough and the other shots could suffer on that. Especially with the first two of them I am really picky, as I drove up to Ireland for them! :D
Re: Development problem, had been the fixer outdated or too little?
The film borders are clear execpt for the fifth negative, looks like its been fogged while not in the holder. It looks like the fix is good, I dont see any milky looking areas. The images do look a bit thin on the last frames, looks like exposure problems.
Are you sure you had enough chemicals in the tank to keep the fiilm evenly immersed during agitation and to fully develop before exhaustion? That is usually the root cause of uneven appearance barring any exposure problems.
Re: Development problem, had been the fixer outdated or too little?
That middle one in the 2nd post had some extra exposure somehow.. The border is not neat and even. It's been fogged with light somehow.
Film looks fixed OK. First photo has a little pink at the bottom meaning it might have had a small area covered in the fix. Tmax film will lose it's pink stain as it fixes. It's an effective but crude indicator of how the fixing is going moreso than milkiness.
Re: Development problem, had been the fixer outdated or too little?
There should have been enough emulsion in the tank. It says 270 ml, normally I put a bit more around 300.
Two points I don't think it was too little developer are:
* The third slide (line of trees in the first post) had been most inward.
* The fourth slide (first in second) had been most outward.
Both of them look very consistent.
I guess you are right, it must have been an exposure problem. These also had been the first LF shots I have done since ages. Who knows, what I have done! :D
I also used ND Filters on all of the shots, could be they had been a bit underexposed anyway.
Gary, thanks for your input. Will let me sleep much better tonight!
Re: Development problem, had been the fixer outdated or too little?
jp,
do you suggest I should dip the first slide a bit longer into fix to avoid problems later on?
I can't do anything wrong by refixing it once again, can I?
Is it enough to just dip the lower edge, or should I cover it completely?
I would guess completely would be better...
Re: Development problem, had been the fixer outdated or too little?
No harm in a refix, just wash and dry as usual after.
Re: Development problem, had been the fixer outdated or too little?
ok, good to hear.
Just fixed them with a new fixer for some more minutes and washed them. currently drying without extra pink strips on the edge.
Thanks for your comment!
Re: Development problem, had been the fixer outdated or too little?
I have found that hypo clearing bath- I think its sulfite - will clear out any remaining pink tint as well.
Re: Development problem, had been the fixer outdated or too little?
I don't see how fixer can be the source of these issues since three sheets came out fine. Like others guessing, something happened between exposure and processing.