Which of the following is a result of insufficient washing of film post-development?

Insufficient washing of film after development can indeed lead to retained chemicals in the emulsion layer of the film. During the development process, various chemicals are used to create the image on the film, and these chemicals must be thoroughly washed away to prevent reactions that can compromise the image quality over time. If the film is not properly washed, residual developer, fixer, and other chemicals can remain, potentially causing staining or fogging of images. These retained chemicals can also lead to deterioration of the film emulsion, resulting in issues such as poor archival properties and eventual image degradation.

In contrast, clear images would indicate that the film was processed correctly and all the necessary chemicals were removed, while stable images suggest that the film is free from any chemical imbalances. Loss of sharpness may occur due to other factors, such as poor focusing during exposure or inadequate processing steps, but it is not specifically tied to the washing process and more to overall handling and development practices. Thus, the presence of retained chemicals is the most direct consequence of insufficient washing post-development.