Uneven Development

[rbudhu]

Hi,

I just tried to develop my own B&W photo but it seems as though it was developed unevenly with a dark streak in the middle. After some googling and reading threads, I think it may be uneven agitation. I am attaching a copy of the negative for help. Thanks so much.

[Gary Samson]

Hi,

I just tried to develop my own B&W photo but it seems as though it was developed unevenly with a dark streak in the middle. After some googling and reading threads, I think it may be uneven agitation. I am attaching a copy of the negative for help. Thanks so much.

Can you describe how the film was developed, tray, tank or deep tank with hangers?

[David Schaller]

Yep, that's uneven development. You might want to tell us your procedure, step by step. How are you developing?

[Dustin McAmera]

A very sharp change half-way along the picture: as if the left-hand side wasn't in the developer for the whole time.

[rbudhu]

Thanks for the replies. I am using a Paterson tank (two 4x5 sheets) with 500ml HC-110 (484ml water and 16ml concentrate), 500ml Ilford Rapid Fixer (4+1 dillution). I used the mass. dev. app. with 6 min developer, 1 min stop bath, 5 min fixer, and 10 min wash.

[Willie]

You say TWO sheets of film. Are both showing this density difference?

How much liquid in the tank to fill it completely?

[rbudhu]

Yes, both are similar. I'm not sure. I am using the Paterson Super System 4 Film Developing Tank (Multi-Reel 3) so I'm not sure how much liquid would be needed to completely fill it.

[Huub]

You need at least 1 L of fluid for that tank, which explains why about half of the negative is relatively well developed and the other half isn't. But there seems more issues to the negatives. Did you use the MOD54 insert for this tank?

[Dustin McAmera]

If I recall correctly, Paterson tanks use 300ml to cover a single 35mm film, so a three-reel tank must hold at least 900 ml. Each of those reels is (I guess) 40 mm tall. I haven't used a Paterson tank for a while, and never for sheet film. How are you holding the film in the tank, and which way round? If it sits with the four-inch side vertical, I guess you need about (4 inch*25 mm/inch) * 300 ml / 40 mm = 750 ml, as long as the film is at the bottom and can't stray upwards. If the 5-inch side is vertical, that's about 940 ml.

(Aha! I'd forgotten the MOD45)

[rbudhu]

Yes, also used a Mod45! I appreciate all the help!