Not Happy With Prints - Low Impact/Too "Neutral"(Greyish)/Not Enough Contrast

DF said:

Stoo, Thank You for your your guidance. I've been in the darkroom for only 1 1/2 years, and for only one evening per/week. 'Wish I had more, so time learning/absorbing is abit lean for now, but it's all coming slowly but surely. I use Ilford Multigrade IV RC Deluxe Paper Pearl with either Delta 100 or PanFPlus films, Dektol developer.

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Do you have any APUGers near you that you can watch or who can watch you in the darkroom? Some things are learned much more easily with a quick personal lesson.

Some years back, I volunteered to help resurrect a local high school's darkroom. It had gradually become a storeroom and after clearing it out, I was happy to see that it was equipped with decent equipment (Beseler 45XL's, MXT's and a few 23CII's) that were fitted with 6 element Rodagon and Companon-S glass for all formats. Our first actual printing session left me disappointed with flat results as you described. I'll spare you the trouble-shooting details but it turned out to be an almost indiscernible slight haze in the lenses. A quick initial exam of them had me thinking the optics seemed new appearing. A bright light, careful exam allowed it to be seen. I brought a known optic from home and the issue cleared up. It was such a subtle amount of haze that at first, I couldn't convince myself that it could have the dramatic effect that it did.