Previously I posted another message on this forum about some problems I'm
having with print to print consistensy. This is a follow up of what I have
found.

Basicly I have a portrait that I need to make in multiple copies. My
problem was that once I nailed the exposure one some test sheets, and then
started making copied of the portrait, the face got to pale compared to
the test print. Same amount of exposure, same development, same amount of
toning in selenium toner (partial toning).

I had a teory about the problem was that my temperature was droping, so I
made a water bath and placed my developer and toner tray in this, and kept
temperature constant - the fluctuations where from 19.9 to 20.1 degress -
that is pretty precise I think. But I still have the same problem. I have
done this in three different sessions now and its driving me crazy!

But last night it just struck me - maybe there is a difference in the
processing of the test print and the final print that I didn't think about
before now.

I will try to describe my process for the final print:

Paper used - forte polywarmtone 9.5x12", fibre based glossy surface.
Trays used - around 10ishx13ish inches.
Amount of checmicals used: 1 litre per tray

Steps:

1: I expose the photo for 25 seconds
2: Develop for 4 minutes in a warmtone developer (dont remember which) -
dilution 1/19
3: Fix in ilford rapid fixer diluted 1/9 for 1 minute
4: Fix in ilford rapid fixer diluted 1/9 for 1 minute (another tray)
5: Wash print for 5 minutes
6: Process in hypo clearing agent diluted 1/9 for 10 minutes
7: Partial tone in kodak rapid selenium toner diluted ~1/25 for 5 minutes
8: Process in hypo clearing agent diluted 1/9 for 10 minutes
9: Wash for a looong time :)

Now what I do when I make test strips is the following:

1: I expose the foto for 25 seconds
2: Develop for 4 minutes in a warmtone developer (dont remember which) -
dilution 1/19
3: Fix in ilford rapid fixer diluted 1/9 for 1 minute
4: Fix in ilford rapid fixer diluted 1/9 for 1 minute (another tray)
5: Wash print for ½ minute
6: Partial tone in kodak rapid selenium toner diluted ~1/25 for 5 minutes
7: Wash for ½ minute
8: Dry the print immidiate with a hair dryer.

After looking at my test strips and the final prints I actual realised not
only is the final print only brighter it is also less brown.

It struck me - perhaps the missing steps of washing in hypo clearing agent
when I make test strips changes the result? I havent had the time to test
this further, but I was wondering if this sounds feasible to you?
Does it sound feasible that the selenium toner has a stronger effect when
I dont use hypo clear - i.e. because of a different pH value or something?
Of course not using hypo clear is not realistic in the final print - but
I'm just speculating what the problem could be.

Alternativly I'm wondering if 1 liter of chemicals per tray is to little?

I would really appreciate some input. This thing is driving me crazzy :)