I did it!

[atlcruiser]

I signed up for a darkroom class that starts at the end of the month. I had about 10 rolls sitting around when my local B and W guy got sick and went in the hospital! He will be fine but I was left with a need to develope....I did it! I sat down and bought the chemicals, bought used darkroom stuff on here and sat in the kitchen and developed a roll! It worked!

So now a question or two......

What caused the watermarks on this crap shot?

 

[atlcruiser]

more marks

more marks

you can see them better in this shot

and please.....tell me how to get bigger files up so the viewer does not need to click the thumbnail to get the image larger 🙂

 

[bmasonoh]

Can't help with your question but just wanted to give a nod of encouragement. I just did the same thing this past week and the feeling is definitely liberating (although a bit nail biting too). I'm sure some more experienced darkroom folk will be able to answer your question. Looking good!

 

[atlcruiser]

thanks!

So question #2:
The negatives are very hard. They are not at all supple like the normal negs I get from my local guy. Even tough to get into the scanner holder!

 

[Fenwick]

you can see them better in this shot

and please.....tell me how to get bigger files up so the viewer does not need to click the thumbnail to get the image larger 🙂

Ive been trying to figure that one out for a while myself:bang:

 

[pakeha]

i like thumbnails, sooo easy, however you can have a look in FSU section under `show us your FSU' there is an xplantion in this thread somewhere, good luck

 

[karthiks]

First of all, congratulations. It is a liberating feeling.

How do you wash your negatives? That could give us an idea. The watermarks look like the water just dried on the negative without sliding off.

 

[atlcruiser]

Well i sort of made up a washing process. I drained the fixer then filled it with 72' tap water and let it run into the can....rinsed for 2 minutes or so then dumped, did it again for about 5 minutes then dumped, again for about 5 munties and dumped. I added a quart or so of water with a few drops of dishsoap and shook it into the tank for a final wash.

Pulled the strip out and...having no squigee...I shook the strip dry then hung it up. I did notice some black/grey "bumps" on it while it was drying but they went away when dry.

 

[karthiks]

Hmm impurities in tap water may be the reason. Why don't you try doing the last round of washing with distilled water and see if it helps?

 

[atlcruiser]

i will try that next; thanks

why would the negs be so hard?

 

[karthiks]

Which film was it? I am not sure but maybe you are using a hardening fixer and not enough washing. this one will have to be handled by the experts. I am but an amateur 🙂

 

[atlcruiser]

Tri x 400 with D-76 and kodak fixer. Left the fixer in for about 9 minutes.....

 

[katcons]

Tri x 400 with D-76 and kodak fixer. Left the fixer in for about 9 minutes.....

Hi, congratulations on your first developed rolls. I recently started on my own, and it was a very liberating experience. If you did a good/ crappola job, it's all on you! 🙂

The squeegee-ing is very important on my part to remove any excess wash. Just buy a chamois (even the ones you use to dry your car will do as long as it's clean), put it between your fingers, and run your strip through it. The water marks will definitely disappear.

BTW, I use a rodinal analog on the same film type, 5-6 minutes of fixer, and no less than 20 minutes of washing with water before the final rinse with diluted dishwash with water. I read that if you don't persevere with that last step, the negatives will have lots of yellow stains.

Hoping that helps. Let us know how your next roll pans out.

 

[gilpen123]

Too much dishwashing liquid is not good as it will not easily wash down the negs. I use the green colored dishwashing liquid (Joy) one teaspoon per 600 ml water on the final wash. I don't over stir as it will create too much suds, stir gently just enough to mix it with the water then fill the tank with the lid open already. I then wiggle excess water at 45 deg angle before hanging. Once I hang the negs, I ran my fingers very lightly downwards to remove the excess wash solution.

 

[karthiks]

Too much dishwashing liquid is not good as it will not easily wash down the negs. I use the green colored dishwashing liquid (Joy) one teaspoon per 600 ml water on the final wash. I don't over stir as it will create too much suds, stir gently just enough to mix it with the water then fill the tank with the lid open already. I then wiggle excess water at 45 deg angle before hanging. Once I hang the negs, I ran my fingers very lightly downwards to remove the excess wash solution.

good ideas about the less dishwashing liquid and the 45 deg angle 🙂 but be very careful about the finger thing. sometimes it can scratch the negatives.

 

[lynnb]

try looking up Kodak PHOTO-FLO solution. Always worked for me...

 

[hans voralberg]

Just buy some Photo-flo, it's much easier to mix and works better than washing liquid. It will give you spotless negs without squeezing.

 

[katcons]

How about around 4 drops of CONCENTRATED dishwashing liquid for every 1L of water?

 

[pufy]

Do they also show up on the negative, or only on the scans?
Cause they look like newton rings to me, and i get quite often when i scan curly films. Nothing to worry about.
If they are visible on the negatives, they are not newton rings and you should listen to what the other guys above me said.

 

[punkromance]

Are you talking about what's circled in green or in red?
The red are newton rings from the scanning as your negative wasn't flat enough.
The green like you guessed is just water dried on your negative. Take everyone else's advice and get some Photo-flo.