What went wrong?
My negatives have a cracked, crazed pattern
A fine crackle or wrinkled pattern across the image, like crazed glaze.
Check this first
Did any of your solutions or washes differ a lot in temperature?
Likely causes
- 1.
Reticulation from temperature shock
Common- How to tell
- An even crackle pattern over the whole image. Happens when film goes from warm developer into very cold water, or the other way round.
- Fix
- Keep all solutions and washes within a few degrees of each other.
Avoiding it next time
- Check the temperature of every step, not just the developer.
Go deeper
Other negatives problems
- My film came back completely clear
- My film came back completely black
- My negatives are thin and weak
- My negatives are very dark and dense
- There are streaks or flares of light on my photos
- My negatives have uneven streaks or patches
- There are spots on my negatives
- There are water marks on my negatives
- There are long scratches along my film
- My black and white negatives have a pink or purple tint
- My negatives look milky or cloudy
- There are small crescent-shaped marks on my film
- My colour photos have a strong colour cast
- The edges of my 120 frames are fogged
Last checked October 2026. Seen something different? Tell us.