Negative drying ...


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Pro tip that I learnt on Monday - Shake the reel and film like a crazy faggot to get off excess water on it.
 

Pro tip that I learnt on Monday - Shake the reel and film like a crazy faggot to get off excess water on it.

That's what I plan on doing! :D

I'll make sure that I hide in the room so that nobody sees me crazy faggoting
 

Those drying marks are those big droplets of water that was left on the negatives. I usually use a squeegee but it is not really advisable because it might scratch the negatives especially for those such as the efke 820IR which is really thin.

Btw, remember to place a peg or clip at the end of the negative when you are hanging to dry.

Here is my workflow :-
1) After the wash, drop the roll of negative into the solution of wetting agent (PS : please check the ratio before use, 1:400 is a general guide)
2) Soak for 1 min
3) Carefully remove the negative and hang to dry
(If you can use squeegee, you should be using at this stage)
4) Place peg or clip on the other end to keep negative straighten when drying
 

Those drying marks are those big droplets of water that was left on the negatives. I usually use a squeegee but it is not really advisable because it might scratch the negatives especially for those such as the efke 820IR which is really thin.

Btw, remember to place a peg or clip at the end of the negative when you are hanging to dry.

Here is my workflow :-
1) After the wash, drop the roll of negative into the solution of wetting agent (PS : please check the ratio before use, 1:400 is a general guide)
2) Soak for 1 min
3) Carefully remove the negative and hang to dry
(If you can use squeegee, you should be using at this stage)
4) Place peg or clip on the other end to keep negative straighten when drying

THanks again!
I will do this :D
 

wetting agent.. shake off the water the spool.. air con room dry with 1$ coin and clip to straighten the roll.. colder air con if i want faster. usually take 2-3 hrs.

then store in film sleeve and dry box. the film end up very flat most of the time.
 

It is also possible that the linear scratches occur in the camera not just squeegee-ing technique.

I dried my negs in the toilet as well. using boiling water to knock off the dust before hanging it to dry with door closed.
 

Seems like a squeegy is not in many of the self developers tool kits here.
If you have any experience regarding a type which does works really well, I would appreciate the feedback.
 

It is also possible that the linear scratches occur in the camera not just squeegee-ing technique.

I dried my negs in the toilet as well. using boiling water to knock off the dust before hanging it to dry with door closed.

Yup, that was my first thought so ran a roll of 120 through the cam immediately then self-developed. No scratches evident at all. Thanks
 

I'm also having problems with drying my negatives...

They always still end up drying with little water marks here and there! :(

Squeegee tried, wetting agent tried.

Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong here?
 

can i suggest to add detergent, in the final wash? A few drops (just starting to soap), stir well.

I usually run the negative through two fingers to remove excess water (squeegees are bad for me...they always scratch).


Hope this helps.
 

I'm also having problems with drying my negatives...

They always still end up drying with little water marks here and there! :(

Squeegee tried, wetting agent tried.

Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong here?

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Pro tip that I learnt on Monday - Shake the reel and film like a crazy faggot to get off excess water on it.

Make sure you really shake it HARD! :D
 

I bought some photo-flo last week, but don't haven't finished any film to develop and try it on! :(
 

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Make sure you really shake it HARD! :D

:bsmilie:
Tried liao leh. Although not THAT hard la... ><

Isn't detergent the same as wetting agent?
What I'd do is after final wash, I'll put few drops of wetting agent, then just gently agitate for 30 seconds, then take it out to drip dry.

What I would notice while it's drying is that some of the water droplets cling onto the film and just refuse to flow off.
 

Been through it all. Most efficient (i.e. less effort and time) for me: after final rinse with tap water, take out the reels and set aside. Put in about 20ml photoflo into the empty tank, fill it up with water. Should see some soap bubbles. Take out the film from the reel and hold film by one end so that it hangs vertical. Pour half the thank of diluted photoflo from the top end and let it flow uniformly to the end. This assumes you're tall enough of course. Then immediately hang up to dry.

I find this method a lot better than dumping the whole reel into the tank and shaking. Plus you lazy lots out there don't have to rinse the reels and the center rod since its already rinsed! No water spot problems ever since I tried this. Must have been 100 rolls already so far.
 

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I did another roll yesterday, with photoflo and faggotshaking. I think it worked well :D
 

Been through it all. Most efficient (i.e. less effort and time) for me: after final rinse with tap water, take out the reels and set aside. Put in about 20ml photoflo into the empty tank, fill it up with water. Should see some soap bubbles. Take out the film from the reel and hold film by one end so that it hangs vertical. Pour half the thank of diluted photoflo from the top end and let it flow uniformly to the end. This assumes you're tall enough of course. Then immediately hang up to dry.

I find this method a lot better than dumping the whole reel into the tank and shaking. Plus you lazy lots out there don't have to rinse the reels and the center rod since its already rinsed! No water spot problems ever since I tried this. Must have been 100 rolls already so far.

Need to go and find some stool to stand on liao.

Okay. I shall go and try again after I finish exposing my new roll and see how it goes.
 

I don't follow the dilution instructions regarding wetting agent, at least for Ilford's wetting agent Ilfotol ... if I do, it still doesn't dry negatives fast enough in my environment, leaving some drying marks.

IMHO, dilute less than recommended, no more drying marks (you still use your squeegee or fingers or shake of course, and 2 minutes soaked). Like for Ilford wetting agent, I use 5ml Wetting Agent to 55ml water, way beyond the recommendation of 1:200. Because of this, you have to immediately use your squeegee or fingers to remove excess water as it dries fast, 1 or 2 passes only should be fine. Or just shake it away ....

It's ok, I don't skimp on this and I reuse it maybe 5 times. Obviously, it's not the same for everyone.

"The dilution of Ilfotol needed is dependant on a number of factors and may need some adjustment to get optimum performance for a particular set of circumstances. Performance may vary due the local water quality, the type of processor in use, drying method, etc."


Another important thing about a wetting agent, besides promoting rapid and EVEN drying, is that it has anti-static properties. This can greatly reduce tiny particles (not eliminate) from clinging to negatives, so one gets cleaner negatives. It can also be used to clean filters, glass.


I'm also having problems with drying my negatives...

They always still end up drying with little water marks here and there! :(

Squeegee tried, wetting agent tried.

Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong here?



.
 

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