Postponing Development

[Henry Yorke]

So, I was just about to process six sheets of 4x5 in BTZS tubes when something personal came up - and it turns out that I won't be able to get back into the darkroom until Monday. I had already wetted the film and was just about ready to pour the Pyrocat HD into the tubes when this happened.

It's not a problem to keep the film in the tubes until Monday - but since they've already been in a water bath, should I be worried about water spots? Would it be better just to fill up the tubes with water until Monday? Or leave them alone? Thanks for any help.

[Daniel Stone]

Fill the tubes with water and let them sit there until you can restart your process.

Entirely full with water

[stawastawa]

( if it were E2 E3 or even E4 Film I might be concerned that the emulsion would dissolve off the backing. )

[StoneNYC]

Yea, I think you should empty the tubes of most of the water and then put them on their ends, the film will dry and although there will be humility, the emulsion itself will not be "puffed up" and you won't risk emulsion lift from over-saturating the emulsion.

That said, in the time it takes to post this I would think you could develop them, 5-10 minutes plus 1 minute stop plus 5-6 fixer and you're done, 20-30 minutes when you're already started. I dunno, anyway yea, empty and leave on their ends so that the sheets don't sit in water and you should be fine.

Don't leave them soaking in water for days. Bad idea.

[Henry Yorke]

I'm developing HP5+...is there emulsion lift on B&W film?

Unfortunately, I can't leave the tubes open.

[StoneNYC]

I'm developing HP5+...is there emulsion lift on B&W film?

Unfortunately, I can't leave the tubes open.

I mean empty them (mostly) then re-cap, then stand them on their end so the residual water falls to the bottom and the film inside dries.

It's gelatin, if it's submerged in water for such a long time it will run the risk of expanding and absorbing too much water and lifting off the base.

[Henry Yorke]

Thanks, everyone. I just got back in the darkroom yesterday - and had no problems with the resulting negatives. Stand developed in Pyrocat HD - no problems.

[Daniel Stone]

Did you empty the tubes, or leave them filled with water?

[Henry Yorke]

Sorry - I should have mentioned that I emptied the tubes.