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Silverlog

What went wrong?

There are streaks or flares of light on my photos

Dark streaks or blotches on the negative, which show as bright orange, red or white flares on colour scans. Sometimes they cross several frames.

Check this first

Note where the streaks are: in the same place on every frame, near the film edge, or only at the start or end of the roll.

Likely causes

  1. 1.

    Worn camera light seals

    Common
    How to tell
    Streaks appear in the same position on many frames, often entering from the hinge side or the back door edge.
    Fix
    Replace the foam light seals. Kits are cheap, and it's a common job on older cameras.
  2. 2.

    Loading or unloading in bright light

    Common
    How to tell
    Fogging only on the first or last frames of the roll.
    Fix
    Load and unload in shade, and wind the leader fully into the cassette when rewinding.
  3. 3.

    Loose backing paper on 120 film

    Occasional
    How to tell
    Fogging along the edges of 120 frames, often worse at one end of the roll.
    Fix
    Keep the roll tight when unloading and seal it straight away.
  4. 4.

    A pinhole in the shutter curtain or bellows

    Occasional
    How to tell
    A small bright spot or streak in the same place on every frame, worse after the camera has been pointed at the sun.
    Fix
    Shine a torch through the camera in a dark room to find the hole, then get it repaired.

Avoiding it next time

  • Check seals before buying an older camera.
  • Keep loaded cameras out of direct sun.

Go deeper

Other negatives problems

Last checked October 2026. Seen something different? Tell us.

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