Film & darkroom
A crescent-shaped mark on a negative
Look at handling as well as chemistry.
A physical handling mark can survive into both scans and prints.
Compare the actual negative
Inspect the dry film and record where the mark appears. ILFORD associates crescent or short straight marks with film being kinked during handling, including difficult reel loading. Do not assume that a new development time will fix a physical mark already present in the material.
Evidence: Manufacturer guidance
Practise the movement
Use an expendable roll to rehearse the reel’s loading method. Stop when the film binds rather than forcing it. Keep the damaged original and make any presentation retouching on a labelled digital copy. If valuable film needs further treatment advice, ask an appropriate specialist.
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- ILFORD PHOTO — common film processing problemsManufacturer guidance