Drying negatives and not getting water marks

[brian]

Here's a question:

I've been trying to get rid of water marks on my b&w negatives during the "hung to dry" phase after development but although I'm making some progress there, I still do get some streaking down especially in the middle of the film strip.

FYI, my current method of rinsing the negatives are as follows:
- After the 5-10min of rinsing under running tap, I'll stretch out the roll of film and pour water from the top of the strip and let it flow to the bottom making sure there's no splashes etc. That seems to help, but the last few traces of water will form in the middle of the strip and when it dries up, some deposits will be on the film. Might not be visible at first but after scanning its there especially on uniformly even part of the film.

I don't use any one of those hydrophilic chemicals, diluted washing detergent (even worse stains) or squeegee...

Just wondering what those of you that still does b&w developing have come out as tip & tricks to get water stains out of the final negative...

[waileong]

Photo-flo...

Originally Posted by brian Just wondering what those of you that still does b&w developing have come out as tip & tricks to get water stains out of the final negative...

[djchris]

Suggestion, either use photo-flo, or be a cheapo like me, drip a drop of mama lemon when rinsing. Den use the 2 fingers (index finger & third finger) to squeeze dry the negs.

Den hang to dry.

[sabahan]

when using foto flo,use 20 to 25 degree C water to dilute the chemicals for best result.

[Bee Hedge]

Originally Posted by sabahan when using foto flo,use 20 to 25 degree C water to dilute the chemicals for best result.

I didn't know that you need to dilute it between 20 - 25 deg C. I learn something new again today

[student]

Please use a wetting agent.

You spend so much time taking those precious images. You laboured to develop the negatives.

And you messed it up by not using wetting agent!

Makes sense?

There is no magic. There is no special trick and tip. There are good reasons why wetting agents are staple products in the darkroom.

And I never use a squeegee or my fingers. Drip dry is fine.

[Bee Hedge]

Originally Posted by djchris ...Den use the 2 fingers (index finger & third finger) to squeeze dry the negs...

Alternatively, u can use a rubber squeezee (I'm not sure how u spell that). Some people say that it causes scratch marks on the negatives when squeeze too hard. A tip I got from somebody from Cathay Photo is to soak the squeezee in the diuted chemical solution. Then use the squezee to squeze dry the negatives

[student]

Originally Posted by Bee Hedge I didn't know that you need to dilute it between 20 - 25 deg C. I learn something new again today

You do not need to use wetting agent between 20-25 deg.

MAYBE it MIGHT be better, I am not sure.

But I know you certainly do not need to use wetting agent between those temperatures. They will work just fine.

[student]

Originally Posted by Bee Hedge Alternatively, u can use a rubber squeezee (I'm not sure how u spell that). Some people say that it causes scratch marks on the negatives when squeeze too hard. A tip I got from somebody from Cathay Photo is to soak the squeezee in the diuted chemical solution. Then use the squezee to squeze dry the negatives

Don't listen to them.

First of all, you cannot "soak" a squeegee. It is rubber. Rubber on the squeegee do not get "soak". They get wet.

[KNIGHT ONG]

use wetting agent ...

if KS .. then use finger just to slip thru the negative .. dun use force ..

[brian]

Originally Posted by djchris Suggestion, either use photo-flo, or be a cheapo like me, drip a drop of mama lemon when rinsing. Den use the 2 fingers (index finger & third finger) to squeeze dry the negs. Den hang to dry.

Mama lemon doesn't work as well. You get stains of a different kind. The 2 finger squeegee technique merely spreads out the stain marks... As mentioned, usually you dont see the effect of the water stain, until you scan the neg.

Looks like I have to go the photo-flo route... today I spend too much time cleaning up the water marks after drying. On the smooth side there's no problem but I suppose if you do get watermarks on the emulsion side I'd rather photoshop it out rather than risking it by wiping it out.

Since the marks are left by particles in the water, I suppose using distilled water might work too. but never tried... too cheapskate. distilled water is for drinking, not for washing film. Or else wife would complain.

[brian]

Originally Posted by student Please use a wetting agent. You spend so much time taking those precious images. You laboured to develop the negatives. And you messed it up by not using wetting agent! Makes sense? There is no magic. There is no special trick and tip. There are good reasons why wetting agents are staple products in the darkroom. And I never use a squeegee or my fingers. Drip dry is fine.

Another thing is that its not that easy to come across things like wetting agents in shops nowadays. The last few times I go past Ruby they seem to be out of stock.

[student]

Originally Posted by brian Since the marks are left by particles in the water, I suppose using distilled water might work too. but never tried... too cheapskate. distilled water is for drinking, not for washing film. Or else wife would complain.

I usually process something like 6-10 rolls of films +/- some 4x5 negatives each time And I only use a few drops of wetting agent for these. It will be a lot more expensive to use distill water! Tap water is fine.

[student]

Originally Posted by brian Another thing is that its not that easy to come across things like wetting agents in shops nowadays. The last few times I go past Ruby they seem to be out of stock.

Next time buy 2 bottles. Each bottle last more than 6 months for my usage.

[Bee Hedge]

Hi student,

Only a few drops? I actually followed the directions on the photo-flo label - 10ml to 2 litres of water. Is that too much?

Originally Posted by student I usually process something like 6-10 rolls of films +/- some 4x5 negatives each time And I only use a few drops of wetting agent for these. It will be a lot more expensive to use distill water! Tap water is fine.

[Bee Hedge]

Originally Posted by student I usually process something like 6-10 rolls of films +/- some 4x5 negatives each time And I only use a few drops of wetting agent for these. It will be a lot more expensive to use distill water! Tap water is fine.

Do you actually filter the tap water...as in attach a water filter on the tap?

[csisfun]

Originally Posted by Bee Hedge Hi student, Only a few drops? I actually followed the directions on the photo-flo label - 10ml to 2 litres of water. Is that too much?

Not from my experience. It's usual to dilute these wetting agents in 1+200 ratios or use a few drops. I did 1+200 and it turned out fine. Though I have heard of people using "a few drops" (2 to 3) too. Either way, it's still preference. Doesn't destroy your negatives like bad development.

[student]

Originally Posted by Bee Hedge Hi student, Only a few drops? I actually followed the directions on the photo-flo label - 10ml to 2 litres of water. Is that too much?

Paiseh!

Actually I do not follow the directions.

This is how I do things. Remember I have many rols in many canisters, sometime up to 8 canisters!

I take one canister (about 700 ml). Fill it with tap water, and squeeze "some" wetting agent into it. Then I immerse the rolls one by one into this canister for about 20-30 seconds. Take the roll out and hang it! That's it!

And my negatives have no water marks!

[student]

Originally Posted by Bee Hedge Do you actually filter the tap water...as in attach a water filter on the tap?

No. Never found it necessary.

Actually I think Singapore water is rather good!

[Ansel]

Originally Posted by student No. Never found it necessary. Actually I think Singapore water is rather good!

Bee Hedge you better believe the doc when he says it.

Anyway, are you aware that you *only* need wetting agent for the very *last* rinse?

What I use is a small coffee stirrer plastic spoon that you sometimes get with your coffee at foodcourts. 2ml perhaps? I never got any watermarks. But I don't like the "cockroach" smell of the wet water though.