Pioneer
Veteran
I have been using up some color developing chemistry made by Champion Labs and sold by Jobo Catlabs a while back. It has been working well but for some unknown reason (undoubtedly operator error) I ran out of fixer before I ran out of Developer or Bleach.
I am wondering if anyone has tried Ilford Rapid Fixer to fill in as a fixer for color film. If so, how well did it work out.
I have reviewed the chemistry showing in the MSDS information for both products. Champion used Ammonium Thiosulfate and Sodium Sulfite for the original fixer. Ilford Rapid Fixer uses Ammonium Thiosulfate, Acetic Acid, Sodium Bisulfite, and Sodium Acetate.
I could probably mix up my own fixer but I need to order some Ammonium Thosulfate. Since I use plain old hypo with a little sodium sulfite for preservation I don't have any of the Ammonium version lying around.
The fixer is the last step in the developing process followed by the wash cycle and stabilizer.
I cannot come up with a good reason not to do this but I barely passed High School chemistry so I am certainly capable of screwing this up.
If there is no strong reason not to do this I am going ahead to develop a few rolls of Kodak Ektar tomorrow. If I should not do this at all, let me know before tomorrow.
Thanks in advance for your help.
I am wondering if anyone has tried Ilford Rapid Fixer to fill in as a fixer for color film. If so, how well did it work out.
I have reviewed the chemistry showing in the MSDS information for both products. Champion used Ammonium Thiosulfate and Sodium Sulfite for the original fixer. Ilford Rapid Fixer uses Ammonium Thiosulfate, Acetic Acid, Sodium Bisulfite, and Sodium Acetate.
I could probably mix up my own fixer but I need to order some Ammonium Thosulfate. Since I use plain old hypo with a little sodium sulfite for preservation I don't have any of the Ammonium version lying around.
The fixer is the last step in the developing process followed by the wash cycle and stabilizer.
I cannot come up with a good reason not to do this but I barely passed High School chemistry so I am certainly capable of screwing this up.
If there is no strong reason not to do this I am going ahead to develop a few rolls of Kodak Ektar tomorrow. If I should not do this at all, let me know before tomorrow.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Bill Clark
Veteran
I use Freestyle C41 kit. It has fixer, seems like what's used for black and white film. But it also has a couple of other chemicals that gets mixed with it. The term they use is blix. Probably the other stuff besides fixer is needed.
Here is a pdf of the Freestyle kit instructions:
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/static/pdf/product_pdfs/arista/Arista-liquid-C41.pdf
Hope this helps you.
Here is a pdf of the Freestyle kit instructions:
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/static/pdf/product_pdfs/arista/Arista-liquid-C41.pdf
Hope this helps you.
Oren Grad
Well-known
CAUTION - DO NOT DEVELOP THE FILM YET!
I have a vague recollection of the pH being way off for C-41. But all I can find right now is a brief warning on photo.net by Ron Mowrey:
https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/b-w-fixer-for-c41-film-process.228845/
Ron is retired from Kodak, IIRC was very involved with their color neg materials. I can't remember if you're registered on APUG, but I'd head over there and ask Ron ("Photo Engineer") about it before taking a chance with your film.
I have a vague recollection of the pH being way off for C-41. But all I can find right now is a brief warning on photo.net by Ron Mowrey:
https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/b-w-fixer-for-c41-film-process.228845/
Ron is retired from Kodak, IIRC was very involved with their color neg materials. I can't remember if you're registered on APUG, but I'd head over there and ask Ron ("Photo Engineer") about it before taking a chance with your film.
Pioneer
Veteran
Thanks. I will do that.
Pioneer
Veteran
Advice from APUG confirmed Oren Grad that a fixer with a neutral pH is needed to avoid damaging the color dyes.
The pH of the Ilford Rapid Fixer is between 5.0 and 5.6 which is too acidic. Though I do have a pH meter I would just as soon not try to neutralize this fixer.
I ordered a gallon of TF-5 fixer from PhotoFormulary which should make it to my door in a couple of days. This fixer is neutral so it will be an acceptable alternative to the fixer that was in the kit.
Thank you all for your responses.
The pH of the Ilford Rapid Fixer is between 5.0 and 5.6 which is too acidic. Though I do have a pH meter I would just as soon not try to neutralize this fixer.
I ordered a gallon of TF-5 fixer from PhotoFormulary which should make it to my door in a couple of days. This fixer is neutral so it will be an acceptable alternative to the fixer that was in the kit.
Thank you all for your responses.