Film processing issues

[macandal]

Here we go...

1. Dust
As hard as I try keeping dust away from my negatives, I seem to always get the ugly black spots when I make a print. And even when I succeed in making exposures without dust on the negative, dust makes its way to my negatives somehow, even though I brush the negatives clean before making an enlargement, there's dust on my print (white spots).

How do you keep dust away from negatives at all times?

2. Loading film into tanks
I use one of these Nikor tanks (daylight safe) to process my 4x5:



I like these tanks. But while I like them, sometimes I have trouble getting them in. Sometimes is not only a problem getting them in, but I scratch the film, and sometimes I even get them stuck to other sheets. To those of you who use these tanks, any tips on safely loading the sheets into the tanks?

Thanks.

[Mark Woods]

For the dust, I have a small tank of Nitrogen in my darkroom. I have it set at 90 PSI and use it to blow off the film when I load my holders and to blow off the negs when they're in the holder before I make an enlargement. I don't have dust problems. It's about $20 to fill the tank and lasts for 6 months or so (depending how active I am).

[Leigh]

2. Loading film into tanks
I use one of these Nikor tanks (daylight safe) to process my 4x5:

It appears you're missing the retaining band, which goes around the middle and holds the sheets in place:



You'll find the instruction sheet online. It's only a couple of pages.

- Leigh

[ROL]

1) I feel your pain, and dust specks always seem to end up in mid grey monotonal regions where spotting can be difficult. Even AA listed this constant vexation as one of his golden rules of photography. Keep your bellows clean and load holders in a clean and somewhat humid environment. For some reason, I get cleaner negs when loading film in a Harrison tent on my tailgate in the field, than in my lab. Maybe the inside of the pup becomes relatively more humid than the drier air outside due to the increased perspiration from my captive, sweaty, anxious hands. Go figure.

2) I'm not entirely certain why most people seem to gravitate towards tanks, and every other contraption other than trays for processing, but sometimes (always in my book) the simplest, least expensive methods work best and most reliably.

[Michael Cienfuegos]

My reels came without the bands, so I use a large rubber band. It works.

m

[macandal]

It appears you're missing the retaining band, which goes around the middle and holds the sheets in place:

No. I have it.

[Jac@stafford.net]

Very much of dust is dead skin cells, and some people shed more than others. I had an employee that had to wear a mask, cap and gloves when scanning film. It helped.

In my darkroom I have a powered Honeywell HEPA filter that really works. It filters and cycles the entire room several times an hour.

[Jac@stafford.net]

By the way, Nikor made another tank originally designed for 2 of the big 220 reels. It exactly fits your 4x5 reel, but with a little more volume (it is taller). If that is the tank you have, then it is important to put something inside at the top to keep the 4x5 reel from sloshing. (I used to sell that model with the taller tank as an option.)

[joselsgil]

Mario,

For your dust problem, try using a Kinetronics static wisk, Ilford antistatic cloth, and or a compressed aerosol dust spray on your holders, prior to loading the film. Also, wipe down and make sure your loading room is dust free. If you are loading your film in a loading bag or tent, make sure it is not falling apart and creating your dust problem.

Good luck,

Jose

[Bill Burk]

And for sliding the film in... Make sure that you adjust the upper rack carefully to align to the appropriate mark engraved on the posts.