Development cleared film?

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Ken Smith - 04 Apr 2004 21:03 GMT

Here's an odd one. Yesterday I developed six sheets of 4x5 APX in what
was probably an one year old, half used stock of Acutol, diluted 1:15,
prior to development of course. After fixing and the lights came on, I
found that all sheets were clear. Now, an exhausted developer would
have left some poorly developed silver, but what's this clear thing
about? Does exhausted Acutol become bleach?
And yes, the film was exposed. In fact I can fondly remember each
and..... sniff.... pardon me....everyone of them.

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Mark in Maine - 05 Apr 2004 00:00 GMT

Ken

I know this sounds stupid, - I know this because I have done it - but
if you get your developer and fixer swapped, you get nice clear sheets
of film- regardless of how fresh the developer is.

Mark

>Here's an odd one. Yesterday I developed six sheets of 4x5 APX in what
>was probably an one year old, half used stock of Acutol, diluted 1:15,
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>And yes, the film was exposed. In fact I can fondly remember each
>and..... sniff.... pardon me....everyone of them.

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Richard Knoppow - 05 Apr 2004 10:17 GMT

> Ken
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> >And yes, the film was exposed. In fact I can fondly remember each
> >and..... sniff.... pardon me....everyone of them.

Can also happen if you mix up the devloper and stop bath. The one
time I did this it was a friend's film. I will _never_ live it down

:-(

Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@ix.netcom.com

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Manny Bhuta - 06 Apr 2004 03:04 GMT

<<snip>>

> Can also happen if you mix up the devloper and stop bath. The one
> time I did this it was a friend's film. I will _never_ live it down
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Los Angeles, CA, USA
> dickburk@ix.netcom.com

I did the same. A co-worker had 2 rolls exposed in a half frame Petri camera.
He could not get any local labs to process them. So, I offered to develop them.
It was most embarrassing when the films came out completely blank. Ever since,
I always develop a test strip first.

Manny Bhuta
Randolph, NJ USA

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Ken Smith - 05 Apr 2004 15:14 GMT

> Ken
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> Mark

Good thought, but no, developer goes in the dirty looking red tray.

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Dan Quinn - 05 Apr 2004 22:40 GMT

> > I know this sounds stupid, - I know this because I have done it - but
> > if you get your developer and fixer swapped, you get nice clear sheets
> > of film- regardless of how fresh the developer is. Mark

> Good thought, but no, developer goes in the dirty looking red tray.

It's an IF - THEN analysis you must perform. Better use some ANDs
and ORs also.
I suggest painter's masking tape which works well with glass
bottles. Add a sharp point, felt tip, laundry grade pen. Dan

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John McLaine - 06 Apr 2004 01:15 GMT

> And yes, the film was exposed. In fact I can fondly remember each
> and..... sniff.... pardon me....everyone of them.

Are you absolutely sure?

I once developed 6 clear sheets from Grafmatic 1, and was completely baffled
until I developed the 6 sheets from grafmatic 2.

All double exposures.

J.

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Stefan Kahlert - 06 Apr 2004 17:10 GMT

> about? Does exhausted Acutol become bleach?

if your developer is gone completely the fixer will remove all the
undeveloped halide and leave you with a clear sheet. With roll-film it
is easy to part unexposed from undeveloped film, unexposed film will
at least show the numbers on the margin.

I suggest you test your accutol with a small strip of film and develop
in an open tray with the lights on. I it doesn't get black within a
short time you know who is the culprit.

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