C41 Film light sensitivity after Bleaching

Kresado · Apr 29, 2021

Quick simple question as I've been told I was running a risk by my c41 workflow
I always develop with separate Bleach and Fixers, I use Fuji Hunt chemicals purchased form a local lab.
I've been tf I should never fix in light as it's still light sensitive and I risk ruining the film. How true is this as I've never had problems. I dev and bleach in normal then after bleaching and rinsing I check for images and fix

koraks · Apr 30, 2021

I don't see any reason why light would be harmful for the film after it has been bleached. You were either misinformed or you misunderstood what the person tried to say, I think.

Kresado · Apr 30, 2021

koraks said:
I don't see any reason why light would be harmful for the film after it has been bleached. You were either misinformed or you misunderstood what the person tried to say, I think.

I'm definitely certain I didn't misunderstad what people were commenting.
Ignore my downvoting spree but I really think most people on Reddit have no idea what they are talking about.

grain elevator · Apr 30, 2021

I would like to get to the bottom of this, too. I thought that "printing out" happens to some degree if light hits the material until fixing. Bleach or no bleach, at least some light sensitive silver compounds should be present (a lot with a rehalogenating bleach). Printed out silver would be a tough job for fixer. Am I wrong? Is it just so little that it's a non-issue?
The Reddit groupthink is just wonderful! We've recently had this new member who passionately advocated a system with uo- and downvoting like that. I think he stayed here, seems to like it without that after all...

Mr Bill · Apr 30, 2021

You're fine turning on the lights after the bleach.

If you want a confirmation of this go to the Kodak process manual for the C-41 process; it's Z-131. Go to table 3-1, "Steps and Conditions - Sink-Line Processors." One of the footnotes states, "You can turn on the lights after the bleach step."

But perhaps the wizards of Reddit know better than Kodak? (It may be fun asking them.)

koraks · Apr 30, 2021

grain elevator said:
I thought that "printing out" happens to some degree if light hits the material until fixing.

It does, but it would take hours at least before it shows up on bleached c41 film. Besides, you could easily rebleach and fix to solve the issue.

Seems like part of the people on reddit are talking about b&w prints, which is a different story, and the other screenshot shows somebody commenting on a discussion we can't see so I can't tell if they're talking nonsense or not. In any case, just like with anything online, some people on reddit will know what's up and some will be clueless.

halfaman · Apr 30, 2021

Rehalogenated silver salts from bleach are not light sensitive but unexposed ones from original emulsion are. In any case I would not be concern if afterwards all of them are going to be fixed.

The description of the strange behaviour during fixing could be a bleach carryover into the fixer.

C41 Film light sensitivity after Bleaching

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C41 Film light sensitivity after Bleaching

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