Improving my developing skills

[alaios]

Dear all,
I still have the following problems with my film and I need help to improve my skills. I am attaching some images that would allow to easier understand where I am stuck.

1. In general I have improved my development process, currently developing at 26 degrees temperature, since I found easier to warm water at proper temperature instead of cooling. All the set was developed with the dd-x and for the hp5 developed at normal speed I was expecting bit less grain. What is your comment for all the set?


2. The image below says 2a at the film frame. I guess that the biggest part was my problem since I have not advanced enough the film at the beginning. Can it be something else?


3. As is also visible from the same frame I always get this shorty hair and dust on my film surface. Blowing after the film is developed does not help to remove them. Intresting is that I do not see those tiny particles in all my film frames (although it can be that are not visible).

4. One more with those tiny particles. What is also the bottom right corner? Bad loading of the film or a flare source during the shoot?


5. Here the dirt is less apparent


6. One more problem. Water stains (?) after drying my film. I have tried with some kitchen detergent but it does not give me stain free film

Can you please let me know what to add at the last rinse to avoid such problems

7. Two more minor problems. Cutting film roll at 5 frames for storing. MAny times I find that the space between the frames is not big enough and I turn to cut parts of the frames I shot
Same problem when aligning my film frames on my scanner. There is a special film holder but many times I end scanning slightly cropped version of my frames.

With practice I would improve
I just need your help, wisdom ane xperience

Regards
Alex

[RSalles]

Alaios,

How are you?

Well, for the flare like in the initial frames, it can be light leaking in the camera, or when loading - I don't believe it's flare too much on the corner...

For dust & etc: those particles are attracted to the film during drying. Try to use a place in the house where dust had settled, an humid place as a bathroom not in use too often. Avoid to open & close the door and window when drying, as it moves small particles of dust on the air. Try PhotoFlo, some drops in the final water bath, 5 min. immersed will cure those spots, and finally, filter the water for the final rinse using discarding paper filters like those for coffee, double filter is better, only in the final rinse with PhotoFlo.
If some water spots remains after drying, you can also use a filtered water with PhotoFlo and a Q-tip barely humid to remove it from the bright side of the film surface after drying.
For cutting, a big and sharp scissor will do the job: I always touch the underside of the film with the blade and do a gentle cut. If it's too difficult, try using those photo slide cutters,

HTH,

Renato