Idiot newby question - how long do I fix for?

Duncan Ross

Duncan Ross

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I have believe-it-or-not hunted for the answer but no luck! Can anyone recommend how long I need to fix film for after developing?

I'm using Adofix 1+9. It must be really obvious as the Adofix bottle doesn't say! Also is there any problems with leaving film in fixer too long?

Many thanks team!

Yours ineptly.....

D.
 
Thanks! Can't wait to finish the next film, only sheer willpower is preventing me from taking 34 exposures of the cat....
 
It is a while since I was in the darkroom but the guide I used to work to was twice as long as it took to little bit of leader that you cut off to go clear.

Kim
 
Kim Coxon said:
It is a while since I was in the darkroom but the guide I used to work to was twice as long as it took to little bit of leader that you cut off to go clear.

Kim
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That's how I currently do it also.

Looking forward to some pictures of the cat. :)
 
kmack said:
That's how I currently do it also.

Looking forward to some pictures of the cat. :)
Click to expand...


She has this terrible way of looking indignant when you crop her ears off.
 

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Take the leader that you cut off when you load a reel. Throw that in your fixer. I agitate since that's what I do when I'm actually fixing - time how long it takes to clear. It should become transparent. Then, fix your film for at least 4 minutes or double that time, whatever is longer.

allan
 
kaiyen said:
Take the leader that you cut off when you load a reel. Throw that in your fixer. I agitate since that's what I do when I'm actually fixing - time how long it takes to clear. It should become transparent. Then, fix your film for at least 4 minutes or double that time, whatever is longer.

allan
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Allan: That's a good tip. Thanks! With this method, will we be able to tell if the fixer is weak? I recently had some film fixed for about 8 mins and it had a purplish tinge.
 
I got told to use the 2-bath method. First use the old fixer twice as long as the leader needs to get clear and then use a fresh one and repeat the procedure. When the old one is not useable any more dispose it, replace it with the second bath and mix a new one as second bath.

Are there known pro's and con's?
 
juggler said:
Allan: That's a good tip. Thanks! With this method, will we be able to tell if the fixer is weak? I recently had some film fixed for about 8 mins and it had a purplish tinge.
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Fixer is weak when the clearing time (that's what it called) for a strip of same film becomes twice of what was for fresh fixer. Another trick with this method is to place a droplet of fixer for a minute on the leader before immersion - makes it easier to evaluate when the piece has cleared completely.

Contrary to popular belief, excessive fixing time can hurt: fixer starts to eat through the image, albeit slowly. It is not recommended to fix for above 3x of clearing time.

The purplish tinge is an anti-haliation component in Kodak and Fuji films. It is not strictly related to fixing, just wash the film until it's gone, or mostly gone. It does not affect scanning or printing.
 
The purple tint can also be sensitizing dyes, at least with the tmax films, which are notorious for the tint. These dyes will fade with exposure to light. I know folks who put tmax negatives on a window sill and the color fades.

I actually do a 2 bath fix as well. I do a leader check about every other "batch" of development, with a batch being equal to about 5-7 rolls. When it doubles from the time I moved it from bath 2 to bath 1, I chuck #1, move #2 to #1, and mix a new #2.

:)
allan
 
Invert once every minute and give it a little tap as you set it down. Kind of like Tom Cruise does it in the movie 'Cocktail'.

As for the film I don't really know.

But that should sort out the cat for you.
 
I actually agitate continuously. I sometimes even use the unicolor roller that I have for my 5x7 stuff. The whole point is to keep fresh fixer hitting the film, so there isn't a reason not to agitation continously.

allan
 
Cut the leader of your film (assumin it is 35mm)
then dump it in a cup with fixer and you'll se it goes clear in
XXX seconds
Fix for at least twice that time
Duncan Ross said:
Can you explain this leader thing?
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To eliminate the purple you need to wash longer or agitate harder in the wash.
If it is really stubborn add a tablespoon of sodium carbonate in the water, agitate vigorously, letting it rest for 30-60 secs, agitate again
Then do 4 or 5 changes of fresh water, agitating viigorously, let stand for 1-2 minutes, agitate -> duimp
 
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