Is the fixer really needed?

On Sunday morning, I developed a negative in a caffenol developer. I don't have any fixer, and I was curious to see what would happen to film that wasn't fixed. So I developed the film, washed it, and then turned on the lights. Image is there, but the antihalation backing is still there so the film is opaque.

A couple days have gone by. The negative is still hanging in my laundry room, with light free to fall on the film. The image is still visible on the negative. It makes sense to me, because even though the negative is getting fogged, it's just latent fogging with nothing to develop it.

Obviously, since the film isn't printable anyway, the fixer isn't really needed. Now, if you actually want to print the image, don't fix it and you will have answered your own question. Best, tim

reub2000 said:

... It makes sense to me, because even though the negative is getting fogged, it's just latent fogging with nothing to develop it.

Click to expand...

What you call 'latent fogging' can continue, and convert all the remaining silver halide into silver.

Best,
Helen

Dear reub2000,

The reason the film is "opaque" is not due to the anti-halation layer. That will have come out in the developer. The problem is that you have not removed the undeveloped silver. Take a section of the film and fix it under room light. You will see why we use fixer.

Neal Wydra