Guarantee Your Film is Fixed!
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2021
- In this Friday Tip I show you a cool technique to fix your film.
Have you ever wondered how you can be sure you fixed your film correctly? Well, here's your answer. No more guess work - this is it!! Film fixing is essential to getting the best negatives that last a lifetime.
If you have wondered if your film is fixed right just use this technique.
John
www.pictorialplanet.com
Nice tip! This is a higher tech approach to the classical rule: that you should fix for twice twice time it takes to clear the film. IMO the time saved well offsets the extra effort of maintain the two fixer baths. This will be the first change to my fixing routine in 40 years.
Yes, Randall. A relatively easy way to fix well without the risk of overdoing it and potentially bleaching the negative. Recommended.
Makes perfect sense.
Look forward to hearing about your photographic trip. Enjoy.
That was so interesting, changes the way I'm going to fix my film. Cheers mate
Am looking forward to making this change in my fixing routine!
Fantastic tip, John. I will certainly be giving this a try. And let me echo the others in wishing you a fun and relaxing time on vacation.
Thanks Tony!
I saw this video after some of yours and then I buy your book. Thank you, thank you thank you for sharing all this with us.
You are welcome, Kors.
Thanks for the tips John enjoy your holiday hopefully the midges won't be biting
Thanks Steven! Can't wait. Should be around Sheildaig and Gairloch area for few days.
Thanks for the tip.
You're welcome
Tried this yesterday on 5x4 and today on 120. Works perfectly and saves a lot of time. Thanks John
You're welcome Geoff.
Thanks John, I was always aware of two bath fixing but never gave it a go. Shall try it out next time I need to make up a new batch!
Good chap!
@@PictorialPlanet thanks for the gentle nudge to try it
Fixing time = clearing time x 2 : I have followed this simple rule for ages and my negatives are all fine. My procedure is slightly different and, perhaps, a little simpler. While the film develops, I immerse a snippet of that very same film in the fixing solution in a beaker, agitate a little, and mark the time until it clears completely (usually 90 to 120 seconds). Then I double that time for fixing. It is very bad practice to fix longer than necessary just to be on the "safe side": Grain structure may deteriorate and washing will take longer.
Glad you agree
Looking forward to seeing results of your trip. As a follow up to today's tip, does it matter if film is over fixed, are there implications for subsequent washing.
Thanks, Stephen! The old rule that one should fix for twice the clearing time has stood up against scrutiny for a hundred years. There are those who fix for longer but one should never fix for less if you want a complete fix. I would never fix for longer than twice the clearing time because it's just unnecessary and has the potential to damage the negative through slight bleaching action. This is a bit of a hot topic and I've never tested the premise (maybe I should one day) but to be safe I stick to the tried and tested 2x clearing time method. It has served us well for a century :)
@@PictorialPlanet Thanks for your reply John.
Thanks, I’m going to try this with a fresh batch of fixer that I need for next processing. Do you find the glass beakers preferable? I was going to pickup two, 600ml as the 1L, plastic beakers Im using can easily tip-over when I have them in a water bath.
The glass beakers are good but one needs to handle them carefully.
Is it safe to expoxe the film to light before its fully fixed? (If it’s still cloudy)
Yes, it is safe as I demonstrated here. There is no developer to develop the silver halides so no development happens. The cloudiness is the undeveloped silver halides (silver bromide, silver iodide) that are being converted and dissolved by the fix. The light can have no adverse effect as long as there's no developer to reduce the exposed halides to silver. I wouldn't do it if there was any danger.
But im assuming you are not using Tabular Grain films in this video right?
I wouldn't use TF2 with tabular grain films (Delta, T-MAX) but say I was using a rapid fix (like Ilford Rapid Fix, Hypam, AGFA304 or the likes) yes I would do exactly the same for those. It's a myth that they need more than twice the clearing time!
Why bother going through all the extra hassle when the Ilford guidelines should be enough i.e. fix once for the recommended time? None of my negs have ever degraded and I'm no expert so why really? I know they promote a two bath fix for paper but even then it assumes that there is a lot of re-use of chemicals going on.
This is a very useful technique for those who might make their own fixer and want to ensure complete fixing of their film. I don't agree that's it's any hassle.
@@PictorialPlanet are there disadvantages to overfixing?
@Raumweiter the fix will start dissolving the finest grains of silver affecting your shadows on film and highlights on paper.