Pink Negs with Tri-X

greenspun.com : LUSENET : B&W Photo - Film & Processing : One Thread

I've read the forum and now suspect my fixing times are too short. Recently switched from Ilford to Kodak (powdered) fixer. I now am getting pink negs but have not tried to increase past the 5 minutes now using. The Ilford produced a very clear negative in that time. Would appreciate some advice on this issue. Thanks

-- George Zook (513zook@msn.com), November 01, 1999

Answers

I've nere used powdered fixer, but I've had some good results developing Tri-X in HC110 dilution d, 6 minutes at 71F, stop x 30 seconds, then fix in Kodak rapid fix+hardener for 2.5 minutes, then fully rinse 10-12 times, add 2-3 drops of PhotoFlo, then rinse another 12 times and hang to dry in a relatively dust-free environment.

This process has yielded clear negatives, with nice tones.

Asher

-- Asher (schachter@a1.tch.harvard.edu), November 01, 1999.


2.5 minutes sounds like a very short time, even for rapid fixer. However, it may be OK (for fresh fixer), provided this is at least twice the clearing time.

George: try fixing for 10 minutes, and see if that makes any difference. A slight but totally even pink cast isn't really a problem, and could be caused by inconsistencies in the film manufacturing process.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), November 02, 1999.


The general rule is to fix for twice the time it takes the negative to clear.

-- Tony Brent (ajbrent@mich.com), November 02, 1999.

I'd guess you used the same fixer for an Ilford Delta or Kodak T-max film and afterwards for the Tri-X. Never you use the same fixer for both Tri-X and new technology films.

-- Lot Wouda (lotw@wxs.nl), November 03, 1999.

"add 2-3 drops of PhotoFlo, then rinse another 12 times and hang to dry" Rinsing after using PhotoFlo completely defeats its purpose. PhotoFlo should be used in the final rinse, preferbly with distilled water.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@ase.com), November 04, 1999.


While two to three minutes in an ammonium thiosulfate rapid fixer is just fine, the powdered Kodak fixer is plain old sodium thiosulfate _non-rapid_ fixer.

Proper fix times for TX in that fixer are 5-10 mins, depending on temperature.

So the short answer is that your fix times are too short for the plain Kodak fixer.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), November 05, 1999.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ