Troubleshooting Your Photos

Film Exposure problems Problem: Large areas of light or dark tones Possible reasons: Wrong ISO – too low Light meter malfunction (whole role) Background affecting meter reading Operator error Light meter malfunction – erratic

Problem: No image on film but visible edge numbers and labeling Possible reasons: Film did not go through camera Shutter did not open Mirror on SLR failed to flip up Lens cap was left on rangefinder camera

Problem: Dark streaks on neg., white streaks in print Possible reasons: Loading film in bright light Opening camera back before rewinding Light leaks in camera Exposing to light during tank loading or processing Film exposed to high temperatures (in car in summer) Exposure to x-rays

Possible reasons: Older lens design or poor lens design – usually compensated by lens coating Direct light falling on lens surface – use a lens shade or other block Dirty or damaged lens or filter – clean well

Possible reasons: Improper lens shade – using a shade designed for a camera with a longer focal length Filters or doublers extending lens shade too far

Possible reasons: Camera has defective double exposure interlock Operator failed to advance film on older camera without an interlock Previously exposed roll was loaded and re-exposed Camera has a defective film-advance mechanism

Occurs when using flash in a bright environment when the subject is moving. Solution: use a higher shutter speed or increase intensity of flash.

Shutter speed was higher than flash sync speed of camera – can occur with focal plane shutters

A dark or illuminated object was close to the lens, causing extreme underexposure in that area.

Possible reasons in older cameras: Film was advanced after end of film was reached Rewind release button wasn’t pushed before rewinding Reason in the wet lab: Film loaded crookedly on plastic developing reel and was forced to load

Possible reasons: In-camera scratches may be caused by dust, dirt, damage on the pressure plate or dirt on the felt of the film cassette. Bulk-loaded film may be scratched by dirt on felt edges of reusable cassettes. Dragging film through negative carrier of enlarger Rough handling What to do when your film is scratched: White scratches on base “shiny” side of film can be treated with messy scratch treatment liquid. Black scratches on emulsion must be retouched.

Caused by: Dim, overcast light reduces contrast Underexposed film causes loss of shadow detail Extremely overexposed film leads to high densities – very dark negatives with no contrast Old or damaged film or old paper Underdeveloped film or print Printing with low numbered filter

Caused by: Harsh sunlight or areas with very clear atmosphere Overdeveloped film or print Printing with high numbered filter

Other Film Developing Problems Problem: Film is completely blank with no image and no edge numbers Cause: Film was not developed but was completely fixed. This is due to a completely depleted or neutralized developer or to placing the film in fixer by mistake before developing.

Cause: Film was crimped while loading into the developing reel

Cause: Film was loaded on the metal developing reel improperly so that adjacent loops were touching during the processing.

Cause: Poor agitation technique Not enough developer in film tank to cover film

Cause: Air bubbles formed on the film during the development process. To prevent air bells: Tap the tank on a hard surface to prevent air bubbles.

Cause; In very dry conditions, advancing or rewinding the film at too high a speed may cause the discharge of static electricity on the film.

Cause: Faulty emulsion manufacture Overly strong acid stop bath Dust or dirt on the film in the camera

The film emulsion wrinkled because of a rapid temperature change during the processing. (Temperatures after the developing bath should be +/- 5°F of the developer temperature.)

Possible causes: Hard water marks from not using wetting agent Scum or other residue from improperly mixed or dirty wetting agent or from placing a negative that still had fixer on it in wetting agent Rough handling or contact of the film with moist or dirty surfaces

Possible causes: Insufficient fixing from: 1) too little time in the fixer 2) depleted fixer What to do: Expose to light as little as possible and refix in fresh fixer

Printing Problems Causes: Excessive exposure in printing Extreme overdevelopment of the print Accidental exposure of paper to white light Incorrect safelight (borders will be exposed as well)

Cause: Dust or dirt was on the enlarger condenser lenses or on a glass negative carrier We do not use glass carriers in our lab.

Causes: Condenser on the enlarger was improperly set for format size and focal length of lens being used. This usually results in white corners. Obstruction – improperly installed filter holder Improper alignment of bulb, use of wrong bulb or misalignment of the condenser optics in the enlarger lamp housing

Causes: Too little exposure in printing Paper inserted in easel emulsion side down Extreme underdevelopment of print

Dust or dirt was on the negative itself

The negative was printed with the emulsion side up, rather than down.

Cause: Too short a print development time Failure to agitate print during development Cold print developer – below 65°F Weak or exhausted print developer

Fingerprints on the negative will result in oversized fingerprints on the print. Chemically contaminated fingerprints on the printing paper will leave life-sized prints.

Causes: Paper fogged by exposure to white light or wrong kind of safe light Paper old or damaged by heat Paper chemically fogged by contaminated or bad developer Enlarger is leaking light which is scattered back to the paper during printing

Causes: Uneven exposure of paper to white light Contact of the paper with liquids or chemicals before processing Rough handling of the paper which can cause black marks or scratches

Causes: Print developer was contaminated or paper contacted contaminating chemicals Print was handled roughly in processing – tongs or fingernails dragged across surface

If the prints are laid in the developer face down and not agitated, air bubbles could be trapped below the paper, causing underdeveloped spots.

Cause: Excessive print fixing

Causes: Overused or contaminated print developer Incomplete washing Contact of print with fixer after washing, as in contaminated dryer, tray or squeegee.

Cause: Inadequate print fixing

Causes: The paper may have been bent too much in handling A cracked, melted appearance can be from overheating resin-coated paper in a dryer or mounting press

Causes: Excessive soaking of the print in liquid Rough handling of a wet print – Frilling

May result if a print comes in contact with liquid after drying

Prevent print curling by controlled humidity, avoiding too much wet time for RC paper prints, and keeping prints under some pressure in storage.

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