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Response to Temperature of stop-bath, fix and wash

from Joe Miller (jmmiller@poka.com)
Raja, I would be very careful about extreme temperature differences when developing film. It is my understanding that having the stop bath much warmer (say 5F or so) can cause the emulsion to swell and crack. (This is called reticulation.)

I prepare the developer the same way you do and then chill the stop bath and developer if they have been prepared in a previous session. (If not, I prepare them like the developer.) The tap water here often reaches 80F or more in the summer so, after fixing, I use a water bath of the correct temperature (68-70F) an add the warmer water to this bath gradually so there is no sudden temperature change. I haven't had any problem with reticulation.

(posted 8738 days ago)

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