8x10 enlargement problem

[steve barry]

I got the 8x10 durst up and running beautifully. I have been printing 4x5 and 5x7 up until last night when I tried my first 8x10 negative - enlarged to a 30x40 print.

It may be hard to see with cell phone photo, but on the left side of print is about a six inch stripe. I have figured out the smaller stripes on the very edges of the print, had to do with the neg carrier. The diagonal line is a shadow on the print.

But I tried a few negatives, two different neg carriers, different paper, etc. I am thinking it must be something in the head. Any ideas? Is this what a burned out bulb looks like on these by any chance? THANKS

bigger

[vinny]

That wouldn't be caused by a burned out bulb. Looks like something obstructing the light path near the diffusion panel.

[steve barry]

I checked it, but I will check again. It is an omega F color head. Guess I should have said that. Maybe something wrong with diffusion panel itself?

[William Whitaker]

I'm a little confused as to what I'm looking at. I thought at first I was looking at an image on the enlarger easel, but it's a positive image. Or is it a projected image of a transparency? Maybe I shouldn't even be looking at the environmental context...

[steve barry]

haha....I put the dried print back on the enlarging easel to take the photo.

[Andrew O'Neill]

It looks to me as though something is blocking light. Is there any way you can get inside the head? It's almost as if something fell off inside and landed on top of the diffusion plate.

[William Whitaker]

Remove the negative carrier completely to take it out of the equation. See if the problem still exists. It looks like a gross enough issue that you should be able to see it on the baseboard/easel. Otherwise you could meter the baseboard/easel for evenness of illumination.

Since you already tried two different negative carriers, that suggests the head itself. You may have to remove it and open it up. It could be a problem with the mixing box. Judging from the sharpness of the line, it looks to be fairly close to the negative plane.

Unless it's in the negative(s). Have you checked? All negatives from the same box? You're sure none got flashed? Looks like you're using paper from a roll, so probably not that. My 2¢.

[steve barry]

Andrew - yes the head is easy to get at....I will check again for fallen debris. That was my first thought, something fell in transport.

Will - pretty sure its not the negative. I have contact prints made of the negatives that are all good. and the line does not fall in the same place on the negatives. the line is in the same spot on the enlarging easel though, but if I move the negative carrier left/right it reduces/increases the area. if that makes sense. I will try removing the negative carrier all together and try to see it before I do anything. the sharpness of the line - makes sense, it must be close the the diffusion panel.

[bob carnie]

It looks like an internal foam inside the mixing box may be out of place, or an internal masking blade*if your enlarger has this option* is in the way or creeping in.
Also is the easal plane centered to the lens and source light?
This does not look like a reflection from something in the room as that should create a fog line that would be a plus density , it looks like you have an even minus density.... my money is on the mixing chamber having a default

[steve barry]

thanks bob. the masking blades are all the way retracted. easel plane is centered - I mean, its not inches off at least. I will check diffusion panel again and mixing chamber when I get home.