black band

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I have just developed a roll of TMY and all the sprocket area and perhaps 1 mm of the frames on the bottom of the roll is black. Do you think this a result of not enough developer solution in the tank? I am sure it was my usual amount. I also used my new motor winder for the first time, so I am hoping it isn't the problem.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

-- sam smith (Ruy_Lopez@hotmail.com), October 08, 2001

Answers

Insufficient developer would give you clear, not black. Sounds like a light leak, so you better look at how the motor drive attaches and what the condition of the light seals is. Maybe missing one?

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), October 08, 2001.

It's certainly not insufficient developer; as has already been correctly stated, that would give clear, not black, results.

It might be insufficient fixer, though unfixed film will start out looking opaque milky white, and only turn dark after extended exposure to light (or fairly brief exposure to developer).

Light leaks will rarely produce a sharp edge, and will usually be very uneven. I'm guessing it's a light leak somewhere. It might be in the camera, or in the film cassette, or somewhere in the development process. Hmm, was the film ever subject to X-rays at an airport?

Unless your motor winder requires that you use a different back or do something else that affects the light seals, I doubt the winder is causing this.

-- Richard Cochran (rcochran@lanset.com), October 10, 2001.


Yes you are right of course the film would be clear with insufficient developer; I didn't think that through too well.

The film was never exposed to x-rays. However it is one from a batch of bulk film I loaded and it could well be the cassette. I will try a factory loaded cassette next.

Thanks for your help, guys.

-- sam smith (Ruy_Lopez@hotmail.com), October 14, 2001.


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