Crap on film

[NazgulKing]

Hi all, I have some issues with some C-41 film developed from Konota and in fact, this isn't the first time this has happened. Basically, there's some kind of stain or whatever on the plastic side of the film which I believe is the film backing. Here is a blow up of a scan:


1a by NazgulKing, on Flickr

Washing with water does not help, neither with photoflo (the Ilford version). Any thoughts on how to solve this? Thank you. I sure hope it isn't fungus, though it doesn't look like fungus.

 

[kgston]

Hi all, I have some issues with some C-41 film developed from Konota and in fact, this isn't the first time this has happened. Basically, there's some kind of stain or whatever on the plastic side of the film which I believe is the film backing. Here is a blow up of a scan:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/86833683@N00/7643755042/
1a by NazgulKing, on Flickr

Washing with water does not help, neither with photoflo (the Ilford version). Any thoughts on how to solve this? Thank you. I sure hope it isn't fungus, though it doesn't look like fungus.

Looks like scratches and a little dust.. Did you use ICE?

 

[NazgulKing]

Looks like scratches and a little dust.. Did you use ICE?

No ICE. It is littered across the entire film.

Here's the full size picture:


1 by NazgulKing, on Flickr

 

[kgston]

If your scanner supports ICE, it is best to use ICE to clear up the scans, because it is very difficult to clean up the film, considering the risk of damaging it. Apart from the vertical scratches (looks like swipe marks), the rest of the dirt, is it layered on top of the film base like some kind of residue or are they scratches and embedded into the film base?

 

[virtualme78]

Ouch. That's a lot of work to remove them. I haven't had any problems with getting my films developed at Konota or at least nothing as bad as this one. I guess this is one of those days when they just didn't clean or check their machines properly?

 

[pikapig]

well is it really an issue with de developing process?

 

[NazgulKing]

If your scanner supports ICE, it is best to use ICE to clear up the scans, because it is very difficult to clean up the film, considering the risk of damaging it. Apart from the vertical scratches (looks like swipe marks), the rest of the dirt, is it layered on top of the film base like some kind of residue or are they scratches and embedded into the film base?

The emulsion side looks fine. When I look at it under light, it seems the marks are mostly on the "plastic"/film base side. I don't exactly have ICE, as I use a Plustek 7600i with Silverfast 8.

Ouch. That's a lot of work to remove them. I haven't had any problems with getting my films developed at Konota or at least nothing as bad as this one. I guess this is one of those days when they just didn't clean or check their machines properly?

Funny thing is that it looked "fine" when I picked it up, or I didn't look at it closely. When I take out the film out from the sleeves at home, these tend to show up. This would be the umpteenth time I have seen this. I have never had this issue with Fotohub before, though there was this few times they produced craptastic slides...

 

[NazgulKing]

well is it really an issue with de developing process?

The funny part is that the issues with the developed film seem confined generally to one side, though I think there was this one time it was on both sides...

 

[kgston]

The emulsion side looks fine. When I look at it under light, it seems the marks are mostly on the "plastic"/film base side. I don't exactly have ICE, as I use a Plustek 7600i with Silverfast 8.

But the marks are residue on top of the base or scratches into the base? If its the former, you can use isopropyl alcohol to wipe them off using a lint free tissue. If scratches, then nothing you can do about it...

 

[NazgulKing]

But the marks are residue on top of the base or scratches into the base? If its the former, you can use isopropyl alcohol to wipe them off using a lint free tissue. If scratches, then nothing you can do about it...

I think it's some kind of residue on the surface.

Is it a good idea to use isopropyl? I have access to some and some lens tissue but alcohols can be corrosive at times.

 

[kgston]

I think it's some kind of residue on the surface.

Is it a good idea to use isopropyl? I have access to some and some lens tissue but alcohols can be corrosive at times.

As long as it is pure 100% ethanol, it should be fine.. I think isopropyl has other organic compounds inside.. Normally I use a solution called Fujifilm Film Cleaner-E, but the MSDS sheet just put ethyl alcohol. But its pretty expensive, its $100+ for 500ml..

Can't say for sure if Isopropyl alcohol is safe, best is to use the leading strip or any unwanted strip to test first. If its the sticky kind of residue, I have tried using 3M adhesive remover (made from citric acid) to pretty gd results.. but whether it will damage your film or not, I cannot vouch for you.. it works for me on my own films.. haha..

 

[Nikkornos]

The marks looks like contribution of dust, handling and etc.

One safe fluid to use is Lighter Fluid. Dabbed on lint free cloth (for lens) and lightly wipe off.

Never had issues with Konota. I hope you don't mind, would you

1. Get a bright torch light and examine the inner side of your camera.
2. Is the inner side (film compartment) dusty?
3. Is the film back clean and free of dust?
4. Is the camera back sponge degraded and particles flaking off?

Once I had this issue, which turned out to be a dusty inner side of a F801s.

 

[Nikkornos]

never had this issue with Fotohub before, though there was this few times they produced craptastic slides...

Ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa You made me fell off my chair.......

 

[NazgulKing]

never had this issue with Fotohub before, though there was this few times they produced craptastic slides...

Ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa You made me fell off my chair.......

Well, I wasn't the only one who reported the issue. *shrug*

The marks looks like contribution of dust, handling and etc.

One safe fluid to use is Lighter Fluid. Dabbed on lint free cloth (for lens) and lightly wipe off.

Never had issues with Konota. I hope you don't mind, would you

1. Get a bright torch light and examine the inner side of your camera.
2. Is the inner side (film compartment) dusty?
3. Is the film back clean and free of dust?
4. Is the camera back sponge degraded and particles flaking off?

Once I had this issue, which turned out to be a dusty inner side of a F801s.

My Bessa is generally clean, though I sent my Zeiss Ikon for repair and there's not much by way of foam inside...

Generally, I have had more problems with local labs. I dropped off my film at a US lab before heading back and the scans they did for me were gorgeous.

 

[Nikkornos]

Well never had issues with ddd konota or fotohub. Although their c41 tightness dropped . Hope you find the real cause.

 

[derekk]

Well never had issues with ddd konota or fotohub. Although their c41 tightness dropped . Hope you find the real cause.

i always go to konota and have always been impressed with their quality. until of late. i spent about 70bucks doing some blow-up prints from negatives. they didn't clean their lens and they had some dust marks. but i thought i was being anal and didn't pursue the matter. just last week i sent in a roll of film. their developing was dismal. there was uneven developing. i will bring the negatives down along with another roll of film to develop, and have a discussion with them. i may not be a big customer in terms of volume, but i will be extremely upset if i were to have to hunt for another lab, which i sincerely hope i won't have to.

hopefully it was just an off-day for the lab.

 

[oceanpriest]

Now i switch lab to grace photolab, was impressed when I sent my first batches to them, the negatives are really clean, no need to turn on ICE :vhappy:

But the second time I went there, there's few dust, but still ok.

 

[Nikkornos]

Can anyone confirm most labs outsource to fotohub? Even konota?

 

[NazgulKing]

Can anyone confirm most labs outsource to fotohub? Even konota?

Konota and the rest send to Forohub to do E6. I think Konota sends the B&w to Fotohub as well. I think Ruby and Triple develop their own B&W.

 

[ellery]

Most if not all the shop that collect B&W for processing sub out to other people to do it. None of the old time shops every did it in-house.