streaky / uneven print; what am I doing wrong?

[mad_boy]

Since shortly, I have my darkroom up and running.

Regularly, I have issues with 'defects' that I can not explain.
Today, I printed the same negative 4 times; I did not change anything on the enlarger or timing. Of these 4 prints, 3 suffered from 'white lines' and 2 from streaks (both of these are regular defects).

An example of the white lines can be seen in picture 1 (to the left above the shoulder of the man and on the right on top of the bubble. If there are these lines they are at different locations in each print.

An example of hte 'streaks' can be seen in picture 2, basically in a horizontal band at the head of the couple (most pronounced to the right of her head).

Since both effect change from picture to picture, problems with the negative or enlarger can be eliminated I presume.

Does anyone have any clue what is the problem here???

 

[zauhar]

Is the developer level in the tray too low, so that if the paper furls it is partly exposed?

I am new to it also, someone else may have better advice.

Randy

 

[StenSture]

Time in the light...

Time in the light...

Hi, Mad Boy. It might be a bit old developer or perhaps you should agitate a bit more during the first 30 seconds in the developer. It may also be that you overexposure your print. The paper should develop for as long as it says in the users manual for your developer.
Best of Luck! /Hans

 

[tmfabian]

never seen this happen before...but if I had to make a few educated guesses to start eliminating....
1)developing multiple sheets of paper at the same time and they're touching, preventing developer from evenly developing
2)continuing on the developer shindig, possibly lack of agitation
3)could be bad paper
that's all i got for now...

 

[mad_boy]

Hi guys,

Thanks for your suggestions.
Some additional information; I mixed new developper today before using it and some prints came out fine, so it is unlikely to be old developper.

All prints are developped 1 min as per recommendation.

Bad paper is an option, but I use Illford Multigrade IV which I expect to be on the high end; any-one having problems with this paper??

Regards,

Mad_boy.

 

[tj01]

The second picture looks like the developer wasn't mixed up properly. If you are using Ilford Multigrade developer, it's 1 part developer to 10 parts water . Usually I use more than 1 litre for 8x10. Try putting exposed paper face down and agitate continuously for 30 seconds. Temp should be above 20 celcius , and this developer should never be reused.

 

[blackwave]

It looks like incomplete development on the right photo. Is the Ilford paper RC or fiber? If fiber, your Dev time should be in the 2-3 minute range.

Another possibility is how you're handling the print in the tray. Personally, I slide the paper into the developer face down and then flip it carefully a couple times to make sure all areas het evenly wet. After those first 20 seconds or so I go to the standard tray rocking method.

Also make sure the dev is mixed properly of course. Pay attention to "stock" concentrations vs. "working" concentrations.

By the way, that is a really great photo. I hope you're able to nail that print so you can show it off!

 

[nikon_sam]

It looks like incomplete development on the right photo. Is the Ilford paper RC or fiber? If fiber, your Dev time should be in the 2-3 minute range.

For Ilford RC paper I develop for 2 minutes, for Fiber paper 2.5 to 3 minutes.
You need to develop the print for the full time and adjust exposure time from that print...

 

[Chris101]

The marks in #1 are dirt on your negative - it might be in the enlarger and falls onto the negative when you put the carrier in. #2 is insufficient development or inadequate agitation.

 

[pakeha]

+ 1 for the `lines' on print #1 and + 1 for number two, if you look at the top and bottom edge of each print you can also see a band that is under developed.
Also Ilford multigrade developer is 1 part to 9 . Not 1 part to 10.
When you drop your prints into developer make a `wave' motion for the first 15 seconds or so. Side to side/back to front.
regards
CW

 

[mad_boy]

Thanks for your comments guys; much appreciated!!

For the streaking there seems to be alignment that this is underdevelopment.
I use RC paper and usually develop for 1 min.
It seems from your remarks that that is on the short time.
I'll try with longer times later in the week and let you know the results. 2 mins will be my next trial..

Chris, I do not think it is dirt on the negative, that should be present in every print, adn they are on a different spot every time...

Thanks again for your input.

Mad_Boy

 

[mad_boy]

Dear rangefinders,

Many thanks for your advise, support.
And you have managed to help me solve the problem.
I have binned the old developper and bought new.
Increased the development time from 1 min to 1min30.
Changed the paper, and now the prints look fine!!

Thanks,

Mad_boy