Dark spots of film

[Bill Poole]

I have been developing my own film with the same developer and process for years, and this is the first time I have seen anything like this. These first three exposures from a roll of TMAX 400 developed in HC-100 are scattered with black dots, which are also visible on the negs as perfectly round grayish dots. The rest of the roll is fine. The two tanks of 4x5 done the same day are also fine.

The camera was a Rollei 3.5 planar which has not demonstrated an issue before. The tank was a Patterson with plastic reel. Because these are the first three images, they would have been on the inside of the reel. The film was processed and washed as I always do. I am not seeing dots in the rebate.

The only new variable is the film: the first TMY I have used in perhaps a year, as I have been using mostly Ilford films.

My first thought was: man that looks like sensor dust, but of course, no sensor. And as I say, the rest of the roll is fine.

I am puzzled, and I thought someone might have seen this issue before. Thanks for any ideas.

202204-07-01 by William Poole, on Flickr

202204-07-02 by William Poole, on Flickr

202204-07-03 by William Poole, on Flickr

[Tobias Key]

They look like air bubbles formed on the film during developing to me.

[Bill Poole]

Thanks, Tobias. I realized in the middle of the night that I was wrong about how the film would have been spooled onto the reel. As the first images they would have been on the outside of the reel during development, not the far inside. I suppose this might relate to your assessment. I agree the shape is like bubbles. Thanks again.