[pure-silver] Re: Rollei Retro 100 Curl Problems
----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Daneliuk" <tundra@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 7:39 PM
Subject: [pure-silver] Rollei Retro 100 Curl Problems
In the hope that RR 100 would replace my beloved APX 100 in 120, I bought a box. The negs look great but the Retro *curls* like crazy. I've typically wash for about 30 mins and then soak in a PhotoFlo solution for 30sec, followed by hanging the film with weights. I have seen extreme curl both longitudinally and laterally. Any ideas how to comabt this?
P.S. It is rumored that the RR 120 is cur out of the bulk *35mm* stock left over at Agfa. This might explain the curl, but I still need to fix the problem. This is the worst curling film I've ever used in 
any format.

TIA,
--
Check a scrap of film to see if it has a back coating. Most B&W 35mm negative film has. This is a coating of gelatin on the back, usually also containing anti-halation dye, that is supposed to counteract the relative difference in shrinkage between the emulsion and support to reduce curling. Not all film has it. Your processing is OK. If you want to reduce the wash time use Kodak Hypo Clearing Agent, that will reduce wash time to five minutes. Then treat in Photo-Flo as usual. I don't know if this will make any difference. Also, if you are using a hardening fixing bath try one without the hardener, and vice-versa. The hardener will affect the shrinkage of the emulsion. I don't know what else to suggest other than drying very slowly to give the emulsion some time to reach equilibrium. Also, do you know what sort of support the film is coated on?
I usually add some alcohol to Photo-Flo. Use the Photo-Flo at half strength (about 2.5ml per liter of soluton) and add about 30ml of 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol per liter. Soak the film in this for about a minute. The amount are not critical. I don't know if this will affect the curling but is worth trying. The alcohol makes a sort of super wetting agent of the Photo-Flo. 

--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
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