Help! Developing problems with HP5+

[AngrySloth]

So I just got into film photography recently and have been trying my hand at developing my own B&W film. I've only done a few rolls so far but I've had a consistent issue (examples linked). The negatives have these very faint vertical lines through every image. They seem to show up more in different areas almost at random but it's been coming up in the shadows far more often.

I can confirm that it's not the camera as I've had the issue from three different ones now. I can also confirm that it's not the film as I've had the problem in both pre-rolled cans of HP5 and from a fresh bulk roll. I live in Brisbane and there's quite heavy water treatment here. I wondered if this was the issue and tried using de-mineralised water for the developer to no avail. I can also confirm that it's definitely in the negative and not a scanning issue.

The chemistry I'm using is:
Dev: HC110
Fix: Ilford Rapid Fixer
Photo flo

So far I've been developing with Dilution H at 20°c for 12 minutes. I have had some issues with keeping the temperature of the chemicals consistent as water at room temp here is 30°c and I need to put it in the fridge. Could this be causing those lines to come up?

Any help at all would be amazing <3

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mhuud3wwjbk4j3x/AAAxiOWBddQY6KQ-S0P-piOAa?dl=0

 

[lynnb]

Are these banding marks in the negatives or are they scanner artifacts? That sort of banding looks like amplification artifacts from digital processing either in the digitisation process (scanner settings) or post processing software.

Have you looked at the negs on a light table under a loupe? If they're visible in the negs that would eliminate the scanning/digital workflow possibility.

 

[AngrySloth]

Hey Lynnb, thanks for the reply. Those were my initial thoughts too. I don't have a loupe but I was able to see the lines on a light pad without one. I can say definitively that it's not the scans.

 

[sebastel]

while I couldn't determine those lines on the examples from dropbox (picture displayed too small), I have my own experience of something looking like described.

in my case, it was the drying process. in the beginning, i used a double sided rubber lip kind of squeegee to strip off most of the water from the film, when hanging for drying. i found that i invited for telegraph wires by doing so.

later i used some soft tissue instead (kleenex, kitchen roll, or similar). no good either, because of the lint getting baked into the wet and still soft emulsion.

nowadays i only wipe the non-emulsion side with some kitchen roll paper.

so -- how do you process your film, once it comes out of the developing drum?

 

[AngrySloth]

Have a look in the bottom left corner of the first image and you might be able to see it.

I've tried the wiping with a paper towel method and found the same thing; small bits of lint getting stuck in the emulsion. Most recently I just left the film to dry on its own without doing anything which left it lint free but with some water marks. The lines are still present on that latest roll.

I should also say that I'm scanning with a DSLR and a macro lens on an LED light pad. I've tested the setup extensively to see if that was causing the issue but no luck. I thought they were scan sync issues between the frequency of the LEDs and the camera sensor but after trying a bunch of different shutter speeds the lines didn't move at all.

 

[AngrySloth]

Alright I feel rather silly right now. I went and did another once over on my scanning setup and found out that the 216 diffusion paper I was using as a backing actually has tiny lines all through it. Thanks for your help guys it would have taken me ages to troubleshoot the scanning again.

 

[lynnb]

Glad you found the culprit. And given a heads up to anyone using backing paper for diffusion - thanks.

 

[sebastel]

+ 1

.... 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

 

[agentlossing]

Hahah, I wracked my brain studying the scans before I scrolled all the way down and found your solution. Makes sense!