Troubleshooting: weird marks on print

[delphine]

I am not too sure where to post this one, but here it goes.

I have been printing today without any pb whatsoever, and I just got this print which shows weird marks. I uploaded the print there: (there was a url link here which no longer exists)
If it is fogging, then I can't think of any explanation for the fog. Also, I find that they are very weird shapped marks for being fog. It looks like chemical marks. I agitated the tray as normal, nothing that I did springs to mind.

I am on a coffee break, but I'd like to finish printing this serie and I have only a couple of sheets left. So if anybody can shed some light I'd appreciate your input.

I am printing on Fomatone FB Matt Nature 532 and developer is Eukobrom.

Thank you.

Delphine

 

[Martin Aislabie]

Were the marks there when you switched the lights on or did they appear ?

Had wondered if either the fix was getting old and had reached its capacity - when you can get silver re-depositing itself back on to the print (would be there when the lights came back on) or the fix time was inadaquate (would appear when the lights were put back on)

Happy Christmas

Martin

 

[delphine]

Hi Martin,

No the marks were there before I switched on the light because I had a peep with my red light torch when it was in the final fix bath .. and I murmured a French word

Merry christmas and thank you for your help.

Delphine

 

[Martin Aislabie]

Is the first fix bath at the limit of its capacity?

You could try a different paper to find out - is it your chemistry or your paper that is the problem

Martin

 

[delphine]

You could try a different paper to find out

Dooh :rolleyes: why didn't I think about that before... going back in to try.
Thank you Martin.

 

[sly]

Fresh fix. I've had similar marks when my fix was getting exhausted, or had been contaminated.

 

[delphine]

I processed some Ilford paper which came out a charm... dived into my cupboad, and found some test strips.. both fix baths tested ok, the second bath being at 0.5Ag & 4Ph.

However, to eliminate the fixer as being a problem, I mixed up some fresh one for both baths as suggested. At that point my safelight decided to give up on life (there is some bad carma floating around) so I went ahead and processed my last but one foma paper in complete darkness.

I am getting similar marks in the same area of the paper, towards the top and then downwards following the central part of the paper.

I am starting to go with David Goldfarb's suggestion. But I am finding it extremely strange that I would had been dabbing on the same side of the pack unwillingly... we are talking about a strange probability here.

Hm... thoughtful Delphine

 

[jmxphoto]

I had a similar-ish problem with some Dektol that was trying to die. The paper wasn't fully developing and I'd end up with marks around the tongs that flowed to where it dripped off the print. I'd have the problem with some papers (Kodabrome) but not others. I eventually lengthend my paper dev time by 30sec and all was well. Doesn't explain the makers in the boarder so much though.

 

[delphine]

Dear all,

I am not sure I can conclude on what happened, but I wanted to say thank you to all for your input & ideas.

After I changed the fixed and tried again, with very similar marks, I was left with one sheet of paper. I had decided to call it off for the day.
The day after, strong of a lightbulb for the safelight, I mixed up fresh dev and stop.... processed in my last sheet ... and tada! no marks.

Best wishes for the new year,

Delphine