OUAIS GROUP ENGINEERING & CONTRACTING

S.A.L OFFSHORE

RADIOGRAPHIC FILM
PROCESSING

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 1

 FILM PROCESSING

DEVELOPER
THE DEVELOPER IS A REDUCING AGENT SUCH AS HYDROQUINONE PRESERVED IN AN
ALKALINE BUFFER SOLUTION. THE DEVELOPER PREFERENTIALLY ATTACKS SENSITISED
SILVER HALIDE GRAINS, REDUCING THEM TO METALLIC SILVER. IF THE FILM IS DEVELOPED AT
TOO HIGH A TEMPERATURE OR FOR TOO LONG A TIME THEN UN-SENSITISED GRAINS WILL
ALSO BE REDUCED. THIS WILL LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN FILM CONTRAST.

ACID STOP BATH

THE STOP BATH CONTAINS ACETIC ACID. THIS RAPIDLY BRINGS TO AN END THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND HELPS TO PRESERVE THE FIXER. IN SOME CASES A RUNNING
WATER WASH IS USED INSTEAD OF AN ACID STOP BATH.

FIXER / HARDENER
THE FIXER CONSISTS OF A SOLUTION OF SODIUM THIOSULPHATE IN AN ACID BUFFER
SOLUTION. IT REMOVES ALL OF THE REMAINING SILVER HALIDES FROM THE FILM EMULSION
AND STABILISES THE IMAGE FORMED. THE HARDENER HELPS TO STOP THE FILM EMULSION
FROM BECOMING TOO SWOLLEN DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE ABSORPTION OF WATER. IT ALSO
HELPS TO SPEED UP THE WASHING AND DRYING PROCESSES.

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 2

 FILM PROCESSING
DEVELOPER

STOP BATH

FIXER

WASHING
FOR THE BEST RESULTS FILM SHOULD ALWAYS BE WASHED IN A RUNNING WATER BATH.
THE TEMPERATURE OF THIS BATH SHOULD BE IN THE RANGE 5 to 25oC. OVERWASHING OR
NOT WASHING ENOUGH WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT THE KEEPING PROPERTIES OF THE FILM

DRYING
AFTER WASHING AND BEFORE DRYING IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO DIP THE FILM INTO A VERY
WEAK DETERGENT SOLUTION (WETTING AGENT). THIS WILL HELP THE FILM TO DRY MORE
EVENLY AND QUICKLY. IT WILL HELP TO PREVENT THE FORMATION OF WATER MARKS.
DRYING IS USUALLY ASSISTED BY A CIRCULATING WARM AIR HEATER. CARE MUST BE
TAKEN TO PREVENT AIRBORNE DUST FROM SETTLING ON THE WET FILM.

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 3

 TYPICAL OPTIMUM TIMES AND TEMPERATURES
FOR MANUAL FILM PROCESSING

PROCESS TIME/min
TEMP. 0C
DEVELOPING 5
20 3
262
STOP BATH 30 0.5
FIXING 20-30 2x(clearing time) 20-30

WASHING 30
5-10 20
13-25
10
NOTE: WASHING TEMPERATURE > 250C TO >BE30
AVOIDED

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 4

 GOOD PRACTICE IN AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSING

GENERAL:
1. IDEALLY ALL OF THE BATHS INCLUDING THE WASH SHOULD BE AT THE
SAME TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 200C. AVOIDING SUDDEN
TEMPERATURE CHANGES WILL PREVENT “RETICULATION.”
2. REPLACE CHEMICAL BATHS WHICH HAVE BECOME HEAVILY
DISCOLOURED DUE TO OXIDATION.

DEVELOPER:
1. AGITATE THE FILM STRONGLY FOR THE FIRST 30 sec AND FOR 10 sec
PER MINUTE THEREAFTER. THIS WILL PREVENT STREAKINESS
CAUSED BY UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT.
2. ALWAYS USE THE MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDED DEVELOPMENT
TIME.
3. MAINTAIN A LOG BOOK OF THE AREA OF FILM PROCESSED AND USE
REPLENISHER AT THE MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDED RATE.

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 5

 GOOD PRACTICE IN AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSING

STOP BATH:
1. ALWAYS USE A STOP BATH. THIS WILL HELP TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF
THE FIXER AND AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF “DICHROIC FOGGING.” THE
ADDITION OF AN ACIDITY INDICATOR TO THE STOP BATH HELPS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE BATH IS EFFECTIVE.

FIXER:
1. REGULARLY CHECK THE CLEARING TIME USING SMALL SECTIONS OF
SCRAP FILM.
2. FIX ALL FILMS FOR A TIME EQUAL TO TWICE THE CLEARING TIME.
AVOID FIXING FOR LONGER PERIODS THAN THIS.
3. USE HARDENER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER’S
RECOMMENDATIONS. THE AMOUNT YOU NEED TO USE WILL
PROBABLY BE INCREASED AT HIGH FIXER TEMPERATURES.
4. REPLENISH THE FIXER UP TO THE MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDED
AMOUNT WHEN THE CLEARING TIME EXCEEDS SAY 2 MINUTES.

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 6

 GOOD PRACTICE IN AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSING

WASHING:
1. WHENEVER POSSIBLE USE A RUNNING WATER WASH.
2. FILTER THE WASH WATER TO REMOVE ANY SOLID CONTAMINANTS.
3. AVOID WASHING AT TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 250C.
4. WASH FILMS FOR THE OPTIMUM TIME. DON’T, FOR INSTANCE, LEAVE
THEM WASHING OVERNIGHT. OVERWASHING WILL MAKE THE FILM
EMULSION VERY SOFT AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.

DRYING:
1. USE A WETTING AGENT TO ENCOURAGE EVEN DRYING.
2. ALWAYS HANG FILMS VERTICALLY.
3. AVOID DRYING AT TEMPERATURES GREATER THAN 400C.
4. DRY FILM IN A DUST FREE ATMOSPHERE

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 7

 GOOD PRACTICE IN AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSING

MAINTENANCE:
1. ALWAYS MAINTAIN THE PROCESSOR IN A
THOROUGHLY CLEAN CONDITION.
2. HAVE THE PROCESSOR SERVICED BY AN EXPERT AT
REGULAR INTERVALS.
3. CAREFULLY MAINTAIN THE SUPPLY OF CHEMICALS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER’
RECOMMENDATIONS.
4. REPLACE / CLEAN THE WATER FILTER AT REGULAR
INTERVALS.
5. TAKE CARE TO AVOID THE OVERLAPPING OF FILMS
WHEN FEEDING THEM INTO THE ROLLERS.

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 8

STORAGE OF UNEXPOSED FILM
& GOOD DARKROOM PRACTICE
1. STORE UNEXPOSED FILM AWAY FROM (OR SHIELDED FROM) SOURCES OF
IONISING RADIATION AT A TEMPERATURE OF 10-150C AND 40-60% RELATIVE
HUMIDITY. AVOID CHEMICAL FUMES ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM VOLATILE
SOLVENTS. OPEN FILM BOXES ONE AT A TIME AND USE THE OLDEST FILM
FIRST.
2. CHECK DARKROOM SAFELIGHT FILTERS ON A REGULAR BASIS. REPLACE
DAMAGED FILTERS.
3. CHECK THE DARKROOM FOR LIGHT LEAKS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
4. KEEP THE WET AND DRY AREAS OF THE DARKROOM WELL SEGREGATED.
5. MAINTAIN THE DARKROOM IN A CLEAN AND TIDY CONDITION.
6. CHECK THE TEMPERATURE AND CONDITION OF THE PROCESSING CHEMICALS
REGULARLY.
7. ALWAYS COVER THE CHEMICALS WHEN NOT IN USE TO PREVENT UNDUE
OXIDATION.
8. MAINTAIN RECORDS OF THE VOLUME OF FILM PROCESSED AND REPLACE
CHEMICALS AT PRE-DETERMINED INTERVALS.
9. CARRY OUT REGULAR TESTS FOR THE BACKGROUND FOG LEVEL OF UN-
EXPOSED FILM.

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 9

 STORAGE OF RADIOGRAPHS

THE MAJOR FACTORS AFFECTING THE LENGTH OF

TIME WHICH A RADIOGRAPH CAN BE STORED
WITHOUT SERIOUS DETERIORATION ARE:
1. ADEQUATE FIXING.
2. ADEQUATE WASHING.
RADIOGRAPHS WHICH HAVE BEEN PROPERLY FIXED
AND SUBJECTED TO AN OPTIMUM AMOUNT OF
WASHING WILL REMAIN IN GOOD CONDITION FOR
MANY YEARS PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE STORED IN
MODERATE ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS (TYPICALLY
10-250C, 40-60% RELATIVE HUMIDITY) .

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 10

 GUIDE TO CORRECTING PROCESSING ARTIFACTS

AUTOMATED PROCESSING
Artefact Cause
Artifacts perpendicular to the direction of film travel
Film hesitation marks a. Chemical exhaustion or
• plus-density lines or bands contamination
• regularly or irregularly spaced b. Roller hesitation
c. Out-of-round roller, or a
hard spot or dirt on the roller
Corrective Action
a. Adjust the rate of replenishment or mix new chemicals as
necessary. Check the replenishment tank. Check for kinked
replenishment lines.
b. Check the drive and the tension on the drive chains.
c. Check the rollers in the developer rack.

Artifacts parallel to the direction of film travel

Surface drying streaks
• narrow wavering bands
• mottled, washed out
• randomly spaced
• seen by reflected light
Delay streaks
• narrow bands (widths vary)
• randomly sized
• plus density
• from the leading edge through
only part of the film
Artifacts occurring randomly on the film surface:
Wet pressure
• plus density
• faded blotches
• overall graininess
• decreased contrast Soft emulsion
• scratches on the emulsion
• "pick-off" or "orange-peel"
a. Under-replenished fixer
b. Dryer is too hot
Chemical build-up on the
developer re-wet roller
Exhausted or contaminated
developer
Inadequate hardening in the
fixer step
a. Increase the fixer replenishment rate.
b. Set the dryer at the recommended temperature or at the
temperature required to just dry the films.
Clean the re-wet roller. Raise the solution level in the
developer tank.
• Check for kinked replenishment lines.
• Increase the rate of developer replenishment.
• Drain the developer tank and fill it with fresh chemicals.
• Check the condition of replenisher (age, oxidation, etc.).
• Increase the rate of fixer replenishment.
• Check for correct mixing volumes (do not dilute).
• Check that the fixer is not exhausted; replace with fresh
fixer if necessary.

8/26/10 M.K. Bencharif 11

 GUIDE TO CORRECTING PROCESSING ARTIFACTS
Artefact
Faults occurring before processing:
Light streaks across one axis of the film
Dark spots on one side of the film
Light spots on one side of the film
Light spots, but usually darker than fixer
splashes
Faults occurring during processing:
Bromide drags; flow marks. Dark areas
below light regions or vice versa
Unfixed, undeveloped, or unwashed area at
the top of the film
Reticulation; fine network of lines on the
surface of the film
Dichroic fog; reddish brown in transmitted
light; green in reflected light
Small light spots having dark edges
"punched out"
Faults occurring during drying of the film:
Small circular light spots scattered on the
surface of the film
Drying marks. Light areas, usually streaks,
surrounded by dark edges. May be
present on both sides of the film,
but do not coincide.
Film buckled or areas of emulsion missing
8/26/10
MANUAL PROCESSING
Cause Corrective Action
Insertion of film in a channel-type hanger that is Wash and dry all hangers thoroughly before re-use.
contaminated with hypo. Hypo is smeared across the
film and causes partial fixing.
Developer splashes (bad darkroom layout or • Keep the loading bench dry.
processing techniques) • Do not splash.
Fixer splashes (bad darkroom layout or processing • Keep the loading bench dry.
techniques) • Do not splash.
Water splashes (if film is developed all at once, • Keep the loading bench dry.
probably no fault will be visible) • Do not splash.
Lack of agitation or too much aaitation Give 10 sec agitation on immersion and 5 -10 sec at the
beginning of each subsequent minute of development.
Failure to maintain solutions at the proper level in the
Maintain the solutions at the proper levels.
tanks.
Large temperature difference between the various
Maintain all solutions at the recommended temperatures.
processing solutions.
a. Contamination of developer with fixer a. Discard the contaminated solution.
b. Inadequate rinse b. Rinse in running water.
c. Exhausted or non-acid fixing bath c. Use fresh acid fixing bath.
Bacterial infection of film usually, due to prolonged
Avoid prolonged washing and use a good drying
washing in warm water or slow drying in a humid
cupboard.
atmosphere.
Air trapped on the surface of the film, not allowing
Agitate the film well; rap sharply to dislodge air on the film
development to occur; when the film is fixed, a
surfaces.
portion of the imaae is removed.
Uneven drying of the gelatin, especially drops of
water running down partially dry film. Use a good drying cabinet and dry clips for hanging films.
Do not dry films in channel-type hangers. Use a wetting
agent such as KODAK PHOTO-FLO Solution.
Films sticking together during drying, followed by
Use a good drying cabinet and allow adequate space
forcible separation. May be due to badly designed
between the films.
drying cabinet.
M.K. Bencharif 12