Strange milky/brown ghost on negative

[OAPOli]

Happens with different cameras and different films, so it's likely related to development or handling? It doesn't happen on all my films and I'm using the same chemicals and process. The ghost is milky under transmitted light, brownish under reflected light. It's on most of the length of negative but not near the edges. My darkroom isn't *perfectly* sealed but this artefact doesn't look like optical fog?

It subtle on the (scanned) images so the effect isn't too bad. Any clue as what this could be?

 

[cliveh]

It looks like a fixation problem.

 

[rcphoto]

I'd refix and wash.

 

[glbeas]

Exhausted fixer is prone to make stains as well as leaving a milky look.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The film needs to be fixed for twice the time it takes the milky brown ghost to disappear. Fix and rewash, but I suspect as does post #4 that the fixer is exhausted.

 

[Kino]

Sounds like dichroic fog.

I would also guess that the area circled is the unaffected (less) area; the remaining being fogged.

 

[koraks]

It looks like a fixation problem.

Yeah, insufficient fixing. Usually due to the use of exhausted fixer, improper mixing of fixer (too weak) or simply too brief fixing times. Refix, rewash.

 

[OAPOli]

Thanks all. I've refixed and washed and the ghost is gone. Four films ago the clearing time was 18s and I was fixing for 2 minutes. Initial clearing time was 10s so I guess it's exhausted.

 

[koraks]

Yes, apparently. Good to hear that you've solved the problem!