Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Pinholes on negative?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    1,261

    Pinholes on negative?

    I just came back from an outdoor (subfreezing Minnesota) shoot, and processed a sheet of 4x5 (from a new box of FP4). The image has over a dozen clear pinholes. What causes these pinholes, so I can avoid doing whatever it was that caused it on this sheet?

    Potential causes?
    - dust from the camera bellows, (it's a 100 y.o. camera that hasn't been used lately);
    - ice condensation on the film;
    - some sort of chemical / pH issue (but it's boring old D-76 and Ilford hypo 1:4, with water rinse between baths);
    - film coating defect;
    - full moon...

  2. #2

    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Calgary, Alberta
    Posts
    1,102

    Re: Pinholes on negative?

    Dear Robert,

    Several years ago I had the same issue, and it was determined that my stop bath was too concentrated with glacial acetic acid, causing the pinholes to appear on my FP4 film. I cut the stop bath dilution to an acid volume that approximates 10ml for each litre of H2O, which eliminated my issue completely.

    Are you using a stop bath after the developer?

    Just curious...

    jim k

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    350

    Re: Pinholes on negative?

    Dust in the holders could be a problem.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    near Seattle, WA
    Posts
    956

    Re: Pinholes on negative?

    Could also be caused by air bells on the film during development. What method are you using to develop?

  5. #5
    runs a monkey grinder Steve M Hostetter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Beech Grove Indiana
    Posts
    2,293

    Re: Pinholes on negative?

    doesn't Ilford recommend a water stop bath? Or is that Efke

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Dec 1997
    Location
    Baraboo, Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,697

    Re: Pinholes on negative?

    Are you talking about actual pin holes or just spots on the negative? Real pin holes are pretty rare, I've never had one, but from reading about them my understanding is that they can be caused by a stop bath that's too strong or leaving film in the stop bath too long. But since you're not using a stop bath (as you should be) I'm guessing you don't really have pin holes, you have clear spots on the negative, usually caused by dust on the film.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    1,261

    Re: Pinholes on negative?

    I developed in D-76 full strength (in a 1 quart baggie), used a 30 second water stop bath/rinse, then went into Ilford rapid fixer 1:4, again in a baggie. I've used the baggie trick in the past with good results, and don't think that figures into the equation... I suspect it's dust coming off the (100+ year old) camera bellows.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    435

    Re: Pinholes on negative?

    I've heard these strong stop bath stories so I ran tests from plain water to 50% acetic acid without pin holes. My only experience with acid pin holes were with certain graphic arts films and those were rare.

    Lynn

Similar Threads

  1. Digital Negative Resolution
    By tgtaylor in forum Digital Processing
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 12-Oct-2009, 14:28
  2. Epson V750 Pro 8X10 Negative Question...
    By jim kitchen in forum Digital Hardware
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 2-Jul-2006, 19:00
  3. Help with a digital negative from and Epson
    By Bruce E. Rathbun in forum Digital Hardware
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 21-Jan-2004, 09:12
  4. Negative holders for home-made horizontal 4x5 and 8x10 enlarger
    By Emil Ems in forum Darkroom: Equipment
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 8-Oct-1998, 12:03
  5. making an enlarged negative
    By doc in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 2-Oct-1998, 15:51

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •