Wasted 6 rolls of Portra before I figured out my tank was too warm
I've been developing at home for about a year and a half now and always thought my colors looked a little off, kinda muddy or shifted toward green. Figured it was my cheap thermometer or just the film being old.
Last month I finally checked the water temp with a second thermometer and found out my tap runs at 78F in the summer, not the 68F I thought I was getting. I'd been pouring developer in way too hot for every single batch since June. The lightbulb moment was holding my C-41 kit instructions next to my notes and seeing the temp range spelled out plain as day.
Now I fill a jug with ice water and wait 10 minutes before I even start. My last roll of Portra came out looking like actual Portra and not swamp water.
Anyone else get burned by their own tap water without realizing it? Curious how you keep temps steady without buying a whole sous vide setup.