Do you peek at your negs before fixing?

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If the film has been thoroughly stopped (in an acid stop) and the light level is not blindingly brilliant, the chances of negatives being ruined by "printing out" when exposed to light in the short time it takes to get to light insensitivity in the fixer is negligible, providing your fixer doesn't reactivate carried-over developer (i.e., you need an acid or at least neutral fix), peeking won't hurt anything; it's just inconvenient for roll film, and even for sheet film developed in trays unless you have a foot or elbow switch for the light.

It's fun to see the cloudy image clear (and informative for beginners), but once the novelty has worn off, totally unnecessary. If you're really worried about your fixer activity, you should do a clip test beforehand.

But, if you enjoy watching the film clearing in the fixer tray, and you've not experienced problems with printing out, then what the heck? Have fun.

Be aware, though, that carried-over developer can be reactivated by an alkaline fixer (e.g., TF-4, etc.). If you're using one of these, I'd leave the lights off.

Doremus
 
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250swb

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If the film has been thoroughly stopped (in an acid stop) and the light level is not blindingly brilliant, the chances of negatives being ruined by "printing out" when exposed to light in the short time it takes to get to light insensitivity in the fixer is negligible, providing your fixer doesn't reactivate carried-over developer (i.e., you need an acid or at least neutral fix), peeking won't hurt anything; it's just inconvenient for roll film, and even for sheet film developed in trays unless you have a foot or elbow switch for the light.

It's fun to see the cloudy image clear (and informative for beginners), but once the novelty has worn off, totally unnecessary. If you're really worried about your fixer activity, you should do a clip test beforehand.

But, if you enjoy watching the film clearing in the fixer tray, and you've not experienced problems with printing out, then what the heck? Have fun.

Be aware, though, that carried-over developer can be reactivated by an alkaline fixer (e.g., TF-4, etc.). If you're using one of these, I'd leave the lights off.

Doremus

Whenever I hear somebody say 'and you've not experienced problems' I always think 'yet'. The entirety of the Zone System is about avoiding problems like a plague, what you teach youngsters or advocate in film developing 101 shouldn't be about Chinese whispers, let them make their own mistakes later and reflect when bitten is their own ass after listening to their own peers.
 

DREW WILEY

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What you think you can get away with one type of film, might indeed bite you in the ass with another kind. I learned that the hard way.
 
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