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> Stupid question time... |
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#1
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Stupid question time...
Can you over fix?
I get a bit of a panic about this, and tend to leave film in the fixer for a while. It is a bit of a 'just to be sure' reaction probably due to inexperience. Can I cause any harm to the negatives if I leave it fixing for an extended period, and what might be the results?
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Seeing the positive in the negative again, cheap and old and made with love! Real name is James xx |
#2
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Over fixing should not phsycally harm the negatives, but what it can do is lose fine detail in the negatives as they can sort of bleach out, and the longer the fixing the worse it can get, For films in 1/4 the max time would be 3 minutes, with the exception of the Tmax films, which need twice as long, the rule of thumb is to fix for twice as long as the film takes to clear, I tend to standardise on 3 minutes, to check the effectiveness of the fixer use the film leader of a 35mm film and when the clearing time extends to twice as long as fresh fixer then discard, I mix 600ml @1/4 and use it 8 to ten times then discard and mux fresh.
Richard
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jerseyinblackandwhite.blogspot.com |
#3
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Thanks Richard.
I will be more cautious, I have been fixing about 8-9 minutes in a 1/4 solution on Fomapan film. Not noticed any detriment but if it is subtly causing issues then I wouldn't see the problem! Will reduce the time in the fixer from now on.
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Seeing the positive in the negative again, cheap and old and made with love! Real name is James xx |
#4
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I use Fomapan 400 as my main film and at 1/4 the film is cleared after 30 seconds agitation, so would be fixed in 2.30, 8/9 minutes would be way too long, you would almost certainly find that some of the detail would go in that time, 3 minutes is the max time for fixing,
Richard
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jerseyinblackandwhite.blogspot.com |
#5
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I know the OP is about fixing film but its worth saying one should avoid over-fixing prints.
Getting the waste products in the fixing solution that soak in to the prints paper base is difficult - so don't over-fix and this eliminates the opportunity for the waste products to build up in the first place. Incidentally, Tim Rudman in his (excellent) toning book claims that the length of time prints spend in the fixer can affect their colour when toned. Martin |
#6
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Quote:
Ian |
#7
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It is/was also accepted that the longer you fix a film or paper then the washing stage should be extended as well.
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#8
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Ilford recommend 2-to-5 mins I have always fixed my film for 5 mins and never had any trouble
www.essexcockney.com |
#9
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This is only anecdotal based on what I think I have read over many posts but it might depend on the film. Some argue that TMax films need longer. I think it was Harry Fearn in his book "Better in Black and White" who said that TMax films need about 9-10 mins. Others argue that "normal" fixing time of say 5-6 mins is OK with TMax but you need to discard fixer quicker than with say Ilford films
I usually use 6 mins which includes a kind of safety margin i.e. it may be too long but avoids any overfixing. I think I had read that up to 10 mins should not incur problems. Try say 6 mins fixing then examine those negs against the 8-9 mins you have used and see if you can detect any difference in them and of the prints from them. Mike |
#10
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Sometimes instruction leaflets are really helpful:
Quote:
The leaflet only says double clearing time, afaik for T-Max/Delta/Foma T it should be clearing time*3. I always try to be on the save side, so I fix slightly longer, with the fixer I use at the moment (mixed 1+4) it normally takes between 1-4 minutes, depends on the film and on how many films are through already, maybe sometimes 5 or 6 minutes Last edited by namir; 21st March 2016 at 11:40 AM. Reason: Gerenglish |
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