An old friend who teaches high-school journalism sent out an email plea for help in identifying a B&W film processing problem. Some star shaped artifacts were appearing on some of the film processed in her classes.
"Hello photo experts...
I've recently run into a 35mm film printing problem that I hope you can shed some light on. (Yes, we still do old school wetlab/darkroom for one project then digital the rest...)
Attached is a photo with these strange "stars" which are on the film of several of my students. It happened randomly, about two kids in each of of my three photo classes. I've never seen this problem. What do you think it is?
Over agitation?
Chemical contamination?... although several other students using the same stuff, same jugs of chemicals, turned out OK
Rinse water too hot?
Aliens?
I'm stumped. Hope you can help."
I am posting the problem here in the hope that some film guru has solved this problem before as I have never seen it.