Stains - Sloppy Darkroom or Processing Problem?

I did a huge batch of prints last weekend and I have about 6-8 prints that have small orangy spots/stains. Due to their size, shape, and locations on the print, I think they are from splashes or drops of selenium toner landing on the prints while they were on the print drying rack. They look suspiciously like the same splashes/spots/stains that line the edge of my selenium toning tray.

However, this is my first run-through on adding selenium toning to my wet darkroom workflow, so I would love to get advice from other people about what they think the stains might be from.

My workflow is as follows:

Ilford Multigrade Developer: 3 minutes
Ilfostop: 10-15 seconds
Ilford Rapid Fix 1: 30-45 seconds
Ilford Rapid Fix 2: 30-45 seconds
Hypo Clearing Agent: 5-7 minutes
Selenium Toner (1+9): 10-12 minutes
Hypo Clearing Agent: 5-7 minutes
Water Holding Bath: Time Varies
Archival Wash: 45-60 minutes
Squeegee and Place Face Up on Print Drying Screens

Once I discovered the first stains on the drying prints, I tried to wash them off - no go.

So, either I need to make certain to remove the print drying rack from the wet darkroom space (probably not the best situation I know, but my space is rather limited), or something else is wrong and I need to figure out what it is.

I've included a couple pictures and I'd love to hear people's thoughts. Many thanks in advance!

Hiernst said:

I did a huge batch of prints last weekend and I have about 6-8 prints that have small orangy spots/stains. Due to their size, shape, and locations on the print, I think they are from splashes or drops of selenium toner landing on the prints while they were on the print drying rack. They look suspiciously like the same splashes/spots/stains that line the edge of my selenium toning tray.

Click to expand...

It looks to me like that's what's happened. I'd suggest that you separate any toning from printmaking; make a batch of prints, dry, assess then consider toning them. Complete chemical separation between printmaking and toning will assure you're not getting contamination from random chemical splashes.

You should definitely move your print drying rack away from your wet area. If that's impossible, ensure that you can't get chemical splashes on drying prints. For example, leave the prints in water until your chemicals are safely cleared away after your session and move print screens to another room until you need them.

HTH,
kevs.

Thanks Kevin.

Glad to hear someone else say that they're splashes/drops of selenium.

There was this nagging worry that something awful was going to happen to the rest of my prints - like little orange chicken pox would develop all over them because I did something wrong in the processing.

I'll wheel the rack out of the wet space if I can, otherwise I'll cover the top with plastic while I'm working with the chemicals.