Topic: Soft emulsion

[Nigel]

Hi all,

I developed a couple of rolls of Tri-X this morning, and for the first time that I can remember, I noticed that the emulsion was a little soft. I squeegeed the film as I always do and there was a small amount of emulsion suspended in the water that came off. I've been googling and I can't find any suggestion why this might happen.

My process: Bellini ECO 7 mins, Ilford stop, Ilford Rapid Fix 5 mins, wash. The only thing I was slightly concerned about, because we have such hard water I always do a final rinse in some bottled water. Today that water was quite cold. I'm guessing 12-13°C. I don't think I've ever seen reticulation before. Would I notice it before scanning? Could that be the issue?


 

[Francois]

It could be reticulation as you're doing things in the right order in order to get it. (it only works when going from warm to cold)
But Tri-X is usually quite robust, so I'm pretty surprised.

A thing that also softens the emulsion is an alkaline bath.

As for seeing it before scanning, check the negs with a magnifying glass, you should see the mottled texture the process would leave.

[Nigel]

Thanks Francois. I've been reading a couple of forums where folks have tried to create reticulation deliberately and have had to resort to a significant temperature difference to get the effect, far more than my 8-ish degrees. It happened to both films, so there's something going on but at the moment I have no other ideas.

Unfortunately, my eyes aren't good enough to detect whether there is any reticulation, so I'll have to wait until scanning.

[Francois]

If there is a bit of exposed leader left, you might be able to feel it a bit between your fingers... provided you don't have dry skin like I do...

[Francois]

I was wondering something last night: how old is the film?

[Nigel]

I was wondering something last night: how old is the film?

It’s a good thought, but I think it expired earlier this year.

[Francois]

That's fresh for me.
I had something similar happen to me on some HP5 that expired in 1989 and that was in a mystery bulk loader I got at a garage sale....
Could it have been something left in the tank before this roll?
It's either that or maybe a defect on that particular batch, though kodak's quality control is pretty darn good...