[LargeFormat] Help, scratches on negative..

[Curt Miller]

> Dear Achal,
>
>      Sounds like agitation scratching. Trays I have found are good if you
> can shepherd only one sheet at a time and even then try not to
> let it touch
> the surrfaces too much.
>
>      Could you go down to the local market like I did and find 3 plastic
> food holders - the kind that sit in the refrigerator with a plastic lid. I
> got rectangular ones that allow me to suspend sheet film in them with
> nothing touching it but the liquid? A dip and dunk action to
> agitate and no scratching. Also cheap.
>
This is good advice.  In fact, if you are careful choosing the size of the
food container, you can find ones that will actually hold two negatives
back-to-back, suspended an inch off the bottom of the container.  You can
then put a lid on the container so developer doesn't slosh all over your wet
bench.  I've used this method in the past with PMK and have gotten gorgeous,
scratch-free negatives.

Curt Miller, M.P.A.
Classic Photography by Miller
B&W Photography - Minox to 8x10

http://www.curt-miller.com