When the Photo-Flo Fails
- Author Michael Elliott
- Published October 28, 2023
- Word count 709
What To Do?
Michael Elliott --- Fine Art Film Photographer-Flâneur and Londoner at Large
If you hadn't noticed, I've written a quick and dirty guide to developing your own black and white film at home. If you haven't checked it out, go do so now. The last part of the development process is rinsing the film to remove the remaining chemicals and then a final wash in a rinse aid, like Photo-Flo.
A conversation I was having with someone on Facebook led to the question, "What can I do if I have washed my negatives and they have drying marks on them?". I thought about this --- and I've experienced it before myself. It's a really frustrating thing, and there isn't a single standout course of action.
Why does residue form?
Residue forms on the film due to mineral deposits in the wash water that are left on the film when the water dries.
Rinse aid (essentially a surfactant like dish-soap) reduces the surface tension of the water to allow the water to move freely off the film before it dries and deposits the minerals.
When too much rinse aid is used, bubbles can form that --- rather counter-intuitively --- trap the residue.
When too little rinse aid is used, the water cannot slough off the film quickly enough before it dries and deposits the mineral scum.
To re-wash or not?
The first thing is --- if you haven't cut the roll into strips and it is still hanging, it's quite easy to fill a tank or basin with distilled water and add Photo-Flo again, and then run the roll through the rinse solution again.
Hold the film at both ends preferably with the film clips still attached, with the shiny (non-emulsion) side facing the bottom/sides of the tank. Using a rocking motion, dip the film into the rinse solution, and then move your left hand up and right hand down, then left hand down, right hand up, repeating a few times. Remove, shake the excess off and hang. Always squeegee --- only with gloved hands (marigolds work well for this) --- to ensure there is minimal residue likely to gather.
An alternative solution
If you have --- then it's still possible to re-wash, however it's quite annoying. In those instances, I might recommend a solution called "PEC-12" (photo-emulsion cleaner). Along with the fluid, the company sells a pack of lint-free pads.
Squeeze a couple of drops (no more) onto one of the pads, fold it in half, then, holding one end of the strip with a pair of tweezers, run the strip through the pad. The pad folded over should cover the whole of the emulsion and backing sides of the strip allowing you to clean in one motion from end to end.
Bear in mind that if you use too much PEC-12 fluid, it will leave its own residue on the film, so be more sparing than liberal.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, when developing your film yourself at home, you should aim to use distilled water for the final rinse only (where you add the Photo-Flo). You do not need to use distilled water for any other solution.
This would minimise the likelihood of mineral deposits being left on the film as the water dries, should you use too much or too little Photo-Flo.
If you do manage to find drying marks on the film after it's dried, if you haven't cut the film into strips, simply re-wash in a new batch of Photo-Flo solution.
If you have cut into strips, you can use a solution called PEC-12 and some PEC pads to gently wipe the marks away.
You can follow Michael Elliott on:
-
MichaelElliottPhotographer on Facebook
-
MichaelEllio77 on Twitter
-
michaelelliottphotography on Mastodon
-
michaelelliottphotography on 500px
-
michaelelliottphotography on Flickr
-
mephotographer on Behance
If you enjoyed this, please do consider subscribing to my weekly newsletter. It has lots more blog articles, photo features and more.
Michael Elliott Photography has a wealth of information, news, images and wall art for sale. Go visit today!
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- What can tourists do in the Caribbean?
- The Unseen Impacts of Financial Noncompliance on Business Growth
- Top 10 Reasons to Use Business Central’s License Plating App
- Exploring BCShows: A Comprehensive B2B Industry Platform
- A Luxury African Safari Or A Caribbean Beach Holiday
- What might be able to be done for osteoarthritis in the future?
- App Development: Transforming Ideas into Reality
- Why is the study of history is critical?
- Navigating Europe with Confidence: Logistics Solutions from Barcelona and Cluj-Napoca
- Taking a Well-Deserved Break: An Introduction to London Respite Care
- Discover the Convenience of Chauffeur Services in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Fall Holiday Fashion Trends: The Kaftan and Kimono Dress Revival
- Vintage Bohemian Charm: Creating a Home Office Retreat
- Embrace the Maximalist Decor : Unleash Your Boldest Dreams
- The Impact of 3D Animation in Business: Enhancing Visual Communication and Marketing Strategies
- Check Out These 6 Tips For A Great Day Hike!
- Steady Slope Marketing: Launching Your Small Business with Google My Business and Digital Marketing
- Steady Slope Marketing: Boost Your Business with Targeted Facebook Ads
- Steady Slope Marketing: Building Strong Brands for Lasting Success
- Steady Slope Marketing: Maximizing Growth with Google Ads
- Steady Slope Marketing: Building Custom Websites that Drive Growth
- Steady Slope Marketing: Unlocking Growth with Google Local Service Ads
- Steady Slope Marketing: Scaling Your Business for Long-Term Growth
- Steady Slope Marketing: Setting Up Small Businesses for Success in the Digital Age
- Steady Slope Marketing: Elevating Local Search Authority for Small Businesses
- Send Money to India from the UK: Secure Transfers and Remittance Online
- The Power Of Happy Hour: How Bars and Restaurants Can Leverage Promotions To Drive Drink Sales
- Legal And Ethical Considerations When Attempting To Find Vehicle Owners
- The Science Of Music And Exercise: How The Right Playlist Can Boost Your Performance
- The Role Of Government Policies In Accelerating The Adoption Of Electric Vehicles In The UK