Why do my photos have vertical stripes?

It can be caused by incorrect storage or defective film. Read here how to recognise and avoid this issue.

Distinguished by:

• Large vertical stripes or banding
• Typically between 1-3 visibly distinct lines
• Lines occur directly above the 3 pod lines
• Often slight exposure or color differences between the bands

Caused by:

This issue most often occurs when the developer paste within each of the pods or pouches on the rear bottom of the photo frame is slightly different, causing visual differences in the development of the photo. The most frequent reason for this is that chemical reactions have occured within the pod during storage (e.g. drying up, or chemically changing composition). This is most common in expired film packs, or film that has been improperly stored, though it can also be caused by inconsistencies during the manufacturing process.

How to avoid:

• Ensure your film is not expired, and always use your film within 12 months of its production date (see expiration date on the film box)
• Ensure you are storing your film correctly (read about it here)
• Production problem
• If your film is not expired and was stored correctly, there is a chance that your film has a manufacturing defect