Re: faint lines on negatives -Reply

[Wayde Allen <allen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 22 May 1997, Timothy E. Coffer wrote:

> When I started using HIE, it was in a 8008s. I didn't bother covering the
> film ID window, novice that I was. Didn't seem to matter, though, as the
> rolls I shot in that body came out fine. I wonder if black tape would
> suffice anyway, considering what you hear about using plastic
> developing tanks.

Yes we "hear" a lot about plastic film tanks, the film windows on the
backs of cameras, etc..  However, I think that we all need to keep in mind
that many people have posted to this list that they have NOT COVERED the
film ID windows and had NO PROBLEMS.  We've also had several posts from
people ACTUALLY USING plastic developing tanks with IR film in fully
illuminated darkrooms without problems.  We have even had threads on
people loading HIE in subdued light without fogging the whole roll as is
sometimes implied.  Caution is fine, but sometimes it seems we take this a
bit far.  Thanks for the information indicating that you haven't
experienced any problems with those film ID windows. 

Perhaps this group should document those items (tanks, etc.) that really
do have IR light leaks.  Maybe we should also have a list of those things
that have been tested to show that there isn't a problem.  Maybe someone
has already done this? 

As far as the faint line on the negative problem goes, it sticks in my
mind that the original poster was having problems with there being a line
having LESS density than the rest of the negatives.  Perhaps I'm
remembering incorrectly?  If I've got this wrong the rest of this is moot.

To the best of my knowledge this rules out light leaks since these would
create MORE density in a negative.  Static electricity would also tend to
INCREASE density, and would not leave a consistently straight line.

To create a streak having LESS density would require something that would
cause less light to reach the film or possibly something that would cause
inadequate developer flow in this region.  This seems unlikely though.  A
manufacturing flaw is also possible, but it this occurs on more than one
roll is pretty unlikely.  If the film was wiped after development, a
scratch is certainly a possibility, but this would create a well defined
edge which I believe the original post discounted. 

I did have a camera once that was giving me a strange white line (in the
negatives) near the edge of each frame a while back, and found that there
was a fiber or hair that had gotten trapped between the shutter and film
plain.  This might be something to look into.

I hope that perhaps this helps, and that I've not misunderstood someone.

- - Wayde
  (allen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)



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