Section of print not sharp

[tbm]

I'm experiencing a problem with my 35mm T-max 400 negatives while printing them: When I make one print, slip it into the developer tray, and then immediately make another print from the same negative, I sometimes end up with blurring near the left or right border, indicating a change in the flatness of the negative. I've attempted to use a negative holder with two sheets of glass, but it tends to produce Newton's rings on my prints, so that is not a solution. Can somebody enlighten me about this and about how to prevent it from happening?

 

[oftheherd]

Without knowing what enlarger you are using, or what exposure times you are using, it sounds like the negative is getting hot and distorting. If that is the case, let it cool down before trying a second print, open the aperture (ensure good focusing) for shorter exposure times, or see if your enlarger will accept a heat resistent glass somewhere between the light source and the negative. Others may be able to offer other suggestions.

 

[tbm]

I discovered the source of my problem this morning before I read your response above. Recollecting my steps before and during its occurence, I suddenly remembered that I had been making prints from negatives requiring 35-45 seconds of exposure time and that time factor was, indeed, heating my negatives, so when I quickly made another print I had not allowed the negatives to cool down. So I printed those negatives agan this morning and every time I made sure I took the negative holder out of my Saunders 670 MXL enlarger and set it on my paper safe adjacent to my easel and put the print in the developer tray. Only when that print had been fixed and had been tossed into the water tray for soaking did I then brush the negative, put it back into the enlarger's slot, and make another print and there was no repeat of the experience I posted above, so the situation has been resolved.

 

[pau3]

To avoid curled negatives in the enlarger is better to use glass carriers.
If you use an anti-Newton rings glass on top of the negative, you will avoid
Newton rings and your negative will be held much flatter.

For a Saunders enlarger there is a universal glass carrier (up to 6x7, with masking
blades) and you can use an anti Newton ring glass on top. That's what I use.

Hope it helps.

Pau