Source
r/Darkroom•
billyryanwill

B&W 120 development issues

So, I've developed a bit of a problem when developing 120 film in B&W at home. I've been developing my own film (C41 and B&W) for a few years with very few problems (with the developing, scanning and drying on the other hand...). However my last two devs I've found that I'm developing getting big black splurges appear on sets of the images. I'm a bit confused as to why (although I have a few theories).

35mm is developing fine, so suggests the chemicals are not the issue (although they have been open a while...). The 120 film has been Ilford HP5+.

My current guesses are:

  1. the film isn't going onto the roll smoothly and therefore the Chen's aren't getting to the film
  2. I've not mixed quite enough chemicals to reach the edges of the film/not agitating enough.

See image here

Posted Jan 14, 2021, 9:43 PM UTC

33
k3rnelpanic•

I think it's #1, the film is touching itself. Usually if it's not enough chems then there will be a pretty uniform line down all the negatives where the top of the liquid level was.

What tank are you using? Paterson tanks have the required amounts of liquids listed on the bottom so you know that you're using enough.

5
InevitableCraftsLab•

I second the film touching itself because it slipped out of the spiral.

So when you wash the developer out some of it stays where the films touches itself and it gets overdeveloped until its dark.

Take a look at that Ilford Document i think yours is the clear patches.

I did that myself once and f'ed up the only film i shot during a weeks vacation cause i thought "yeah one roll one week, thats gonna be special" ^^

4
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
patrickbrianmooney•

Like others have said, it's probably parts of the film coming into contact with other parts of the film.

On the other hand, are you pre-wetting your film before pouring in your developer? Failing to do so can cause uneven development.

1