Scratches on negatives

[PatrickMarq]

My last 4 negatives have a lot of scratches on them, seems almost sandblasted
All from different filmholders

Developed 2 by two with a few weeks apart.
I have used the SP-445, The negatives always dry in a separate cabinet.

[Ulophot]

Are the scratches going in one direction, as fro pulling of pushing into or out of? Base side or emulsion? Random on each sheet? If white in print, they are most likely on base. If you have unexposed film from the same box, why not try fixing a sheet in a tray, directly from the box, and seeing if the scratches are on the film.

Stearman seems to have pretty good quality control, and I woudn't necessarily make that my first suspect. But I'm fairly confident that you would be able see any roughness in the sheet-holder surface by setting it at a glare angle to a broad source, or to feel it, unless your finger tips are quite calloused, in which case, dragging a piece of very thin synthetic such as a shiny polyester or even a lens-cleaning cloth might snag on roughness.

[PatrickMarq]

Philip,
I’m sure it’s not the Stearman, it was just some information how I have developed the film.

The scratches are in the emulsion (white on the negative) they are also not consistent with pulling the film in our out (filmholder/Stearman)
On one they are on top the other one on the lower side. Not straight, but whirls sometimes and always a lot more then 50 and difficult to see onder the loupe.
I’ll try your tip and fix some sheets but as I don’t have a darkroom ...
The film is Foma Creative 200, normally I don’t use this. But I needed to same some money

[j enea]

Philip,

....The film is Foma Creative 200, normally I don’t use this. But I needed to same some money

there is your answer. I stopped using foma 200 because of all the scratches in the emulsion. its too bad as I really like the look of the film.

[Iga]

there is your answer. I stopped using foma 200 because of all the scratches in the emulsion. its too bad as I really like the look of the film.

Thats very new for me. I never had this kind of problem before. I just ordered 13x18 Fomapan 200 and now I'm a bit worried.
Could you please let us know batch number / exp date of your film ?

[PatrickMarq]

Thats very new for me. I never had this kind of problem before. I just ordered 13x18 Fomapan 200 and now I'm a bit worried.
Could you please let us know batch number / exp date of your film ?

Igor,

Batchnumber: 012754-01
Expire date 2023-01

[Iga]

Thanks Patrick !
I will post my results as soon as I get them.

[Ulophot]

On the other hand, since you don't have a darkroom, any possibility that the place processing the film has an issue?

[PatrickMarq]

On the other hand, since you don't have a darkroom, any possibility that the place processing the film has an issue?

I use a Harrison filmtent, keep it clean.
I dit the test you proposed, made sure that the negative nothing touched. Into the SP-445 and yes the scratches are there.
There are about 4 sheets left of this box so I’m going to throw them away. See what the other box does. But I’m going to take some Ilford with me for good scenes and take an image with both films.
If everything is going well I’ll see what I do.
Foma / Ilford have no clue yet.

[Ulophot]

Best wishes, Patrick; glad you found the source of the problem without too much wasted effort, or further images! I have not used Foma (I shoot HP5 exclusively at present, for various reasons), but many do and have not had the problem. It would be good to let the manufacturer, as well as the vendor, know of the problem with the batch, in case they have some still in stock. and perhaps you can get a reply from the former regarding the cause of the issue (sand in the coating machine?) and whether it is being addressed. Many users here and over at Photrio would be grateful!