very light negs,,,all most posatives??

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Hi.. I have just developed 3 rolls of film,,Ilford FP4 Plus...in both tmax and the othe on ilford plus developer,,,all rolls have turned out very light like you almost can't see the image(no Contrast) and when hell up to the light the almost look like a positve rather than a neg..what could be the problem,,perhaps the film was underexposed at the time of takind the photos??? Help

-- Lisa Marie Harper (l_harper@dingoblue.net.au), December 18, 2001

Answers

Lisa, sounds to me very much as though the film was underexposed. I recommend shooting a test roll. Noting the exposures and bracketing [towards overexposure for each subject].

chris p.s. You can tell if it was underexposure, rather than underdevelopment. If you have no details in the shadows it was underexposure. If there is shadow detail, as well as highlight detail, but the negative is just very thin, then it was underdevelopment.

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), December 18, 2001.


I have a feeling your film is underdeveloped. It might also be underexposed, as well. But usually, even with underexposed images, you'll have some areas of significant density--skys, bright highlights and so forth.

If the entire negative is dull and flat, it sounds more like the film just wasn't developed enough. I would recommend you check carefully the temperature and time and developer concentration. You could have bad thermometer, so compare it to another. Also, check to see that your dilution ratios are correct for the developer.

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), December 18, 2001.


Lisa, look at the printing on the film edges (outside the sprocket holes if 35mm). The numbers and etc will be black if the film was fully developed. If these are a light grey the film was most likely underdeveloped.

-- Joe Miller (jmmiller@poka.com), December 18, 2001.

I actually use this method to look at negatives when I want to see a positive image for some reason. Hold the negs emulsion side up to a strong light source with a dark background behind them and you get the positive look. Works best with thin negs, which is why you probably noticed it.

I agree with Joe, check the edge markings 1st, that should point you in the direction of underexposure or under development. I'm guessing underexposed since you have the problem with both developers. Also, don't jump to the conclusion that they're no good. I under exposed some APX-25 one time by going the wrong way with my filter factor corrections (2 stops the wrong way... so 4 stops underexposed!), and the negs are so thin but still produce prints.

For the record, what development dilution/time/temp did you with the Ilford Plus? I use a fair bit of this combination and expose FP4+ at 100asa, then develop in Plus for 1:29 dilution for 6mins @ 20C with 3 inversions per minute.

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), December 18, 2001.


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