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Old 7th August 2020, 06:27 AM
John King John King is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: County Durham
Posts: 3,319
Default Stop Bath

A different take on the idea put forward by Mike. Resin coated paper is not really porous that is why the washing cycle is in minutes rather than approaching an hour. Also as most papers (B&W) are developed to finality there is less need to use a stop bath to halt the developer. (That theory doesn't work with colour papers) Therefore, yes you can simply wash the paper under a running tap or in a proper sheet paper washer.

BUT!

Taking a sheet of paper over 9.5x12 from one dish into the stop bath and then into the fixer means there is little risk of damage to the actual paper. Resin coated paper will kink very easily if it is not lifted by a corner or with two places on the sides. You cannot get rid of a kink in resin coated paper.
That said, if you use running water to clear off the developer, over time you will be using a lot of water and especially those with water meters any saving they can bring will be eliminated. Also if you do not have a tap and sink in your darkroom, carrying a developer soaked print from one room to the next can be a chore that can be easily avoided.

Stop bath is probably one of the cheapest of all the photographic chemicals so it makes little sense not to use it. The latest stop baths do not smell, although I have never objected to the smell akin to fish and chips!
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