Developing problem - 4x5 & D-76

[wlewisiii]

Ok, I've gotten some D-76 and am in the process of getting caught up on my sheet film (12 done 8 to go). I'm doing them 2 sheets at a time in my patterson type tank.

The last two batches, I've had one of the negs come out with a big bluish stain down the middle of the negative. I'm not sure what I've done wrong. 9 minutes at 18 degrees C, agitate for the first thirty seconds then two inversions every 30 seconds after that. Rinse in water and fix for 10 minutes. Then into a water wash for 5 minutes before hanging to dry.

Hmm. Thinking about it as I type this message, would this happen if I accidently put the sheet in with the emulsion side touching the tank? I do know the other sheet, both times, came out fine so that makes me wonder...

Thanks for any ideas,

William

 

[titrisol]

It sounds like the sheet tiuched the tank.... Is this EFKE/Foma film?

If it is and the image is fine there just refix/rewash.

 

[wlewisiii]

Tmax 400. The rest of the negative appears fine. You're saying to put it back in the fixer only?

William

 

[titrisol]

If you can see image in the bluish section yes.
If it is a gray/bluish secton, solid then the film touched the tank and the image is lost

 

[wlewisiii]

Well, I'll be...

I could see image just fine through the stain so I put it in a tray of fixer for 10 minutes. When I pulled it out, the stain was gone. I rewashed it and have the negative hanging to dry again.

I didn't think you could do that - once fixed, I believed, that was it. I've definately learned something today! Thank you very much.

William

 

[titrisol]

You can refix/rewash negatives with no harm.
If your fixer is "old" sometimes negs look "cloudy"... refix and done

Also a sulfite solution sometimes can help in getting rid of those antihalation dyes.

 

[phototone]

T-max 400 in sheet film sizes is particularly sensitive about full fixing, as it has a base dye that only dissolves out with full fixing and washing. Do not skimp on the fix & wash times with T-max.

 

[wlewisiii]

Good to know that now. I've been fixing for 10 minutes - I take it that is on the low end for Tmax 400? Plus I've only been washing for about 5 minutes so I should probably leave them in the water longer as well?

In the end, I've only 20 sheets of it left and I've not been terribly happy with it overall. I've ordered a box of 25 of FP4+ from my FLCS and am considering getting the Foma rebranded Arista.EDU Ultra after that. I just wish Kodak still made Plus-X in sheets as that's my favorite 135 and 120 film.

William

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

I remember the first time I dumped the developer out on a roll of T-max years ago. It was a very dark purple color and I almost passed out from shock. Roll was fine though.

It is not just the sheet films that need the longer fix with T-Max (100 and 400 flavors), but also 35mm and 120 roll film.

I normally do a 2 minute pre-soak with distilled water on my T-max films. I don't know that it helps, but it hasn't hurt either. Mainly what has hurt my photographs is the fact that I suck as a photographer.

Wayne