Negs not fixed enough?

Matt5791 · Jul 28, 2006

Recently processed three rolls of FP4, dried them, cut them into strips and put in my usual sleeves.

It then dawned on me that I have only mixed the Ilford Hypam to 1:9 instead of the film strength of 1:4.

They have an excessive pink colour to them.

What is the best way of refixing them, on the basis they are now in strips?

Any suggestions gratefully received!

Many thanks,
Matt

Donald Qualls · Jul 28, 2006

Put some fixer in a print tray and fix a couple strips at a time (few enough you can prevent scratching by overlaps). You can wash in trays, too, of course, or hang the strips by a paper clip (assuming they're 35 mm) and hang them in your print washer, if you have one (though an Ilford style wash in a tray will use less than a gallon of water for as many strips as you can handle at once without overlaps => scratches).

RalphLambrecht · Jul 28, 2006

All, isn't this the proof that pink negatives are underfixed?

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 28, 2006

I don't know. I have some Tri-X negs fixed in TF4 for six minutes that have a slight pink cast to them. They are definitely not underfixed.
A roll of TMX (notorious for the pink cast) came out clear as glass from the same fixing bath.

- Thom

Thomas Bertilsson · Jul 28, 2006

I find that in the case of FP4, I have had some negs which I developed in Rodinal, where I got a pink cast in them. It's not excessive, like the TMX film from Kodak if you don't wash them enough.

Like Donald suggests, a print tray is an excellent solution if you want to refix your negs. I do it sometimes to old negs that I like, but were processed before I was careful with my chemistry, and it works great.

- Thom

JBrunner · Jul 28, 2006

When I started tube processing, some of the antihalation layer sometimes wouldn't come off until the wash stage, as it was pressed to the tube. The film was well fixed, so some antihalation dye remaining may indicate underwashing, not underfixing, though that could also be a contributing factor. The dye is on the other side from the emulsion, and has little to do with developing, fixing and washing, except that it needs be washed out, if in fact the pink color is residual dye from the antihalation layer. A presoak does well to eliminate this problem as well.

I solved the problem with screens in the tube, mentioned in threads that can be searched up on tube developing.

In this case, presoak, fix, wash, wet, dry, enjoy

RalphLambrecht · Jul 28, 2006

I think you're right. Residual pink cast (left-over antihalation layer) is a sign for a lack of washing, including all wet times.

Matt5791 · Jul 29, 2006

RalphLambrecht said:
All, isn't this the proof that pink negatives are underfixed?

In my case it must have something to do with the fix, because some FP4 processed the next day,fixed at full strength, washed the same, displays no pink colour.

Thanks for the advise - I thought using a tray would be the best way.

Thanks,
Matt.

Edwardv · Jul 29, 2006

huggyviking said:
I don't know. I have some Tri-X negs fixed in TF4 for six minutes that have a slight pink cast to them. They are definitely not underfixed.
A roll of TMX (notorious for the pink cast) came out clear as glass from the same fixing bath.

- Thom

Before cutting the rolls into strips expose them to the sun until the dye disappears. It may take between 15 to 30 minutes or less. I do this all the time without a problem.

Ian Grant · Jul 29, 2006

Matt, when you've refixed and washed those cut strips use paper clips to hang the negs to dry, undo the clips so you can hang via a sprocket

Ian

Maine-iac · Jul 29, 2006

Matt5791 said:
Recently processed three rolls of FP4, dried them, cut them into strips and put in my usual sleeves.

It then dawned on me that I have only mixed the Ilford Hypam to 1:9 instead of the film strength of 1:4.

They have an excessive pink colour to them.

What is the best way of refixing them, on the basis they are now in strips?

Any suggestions gratefully received!

Many thanks,
Matt

Inadequate fixing will leave your negs partly stained with cloudy, brownish patches, usually near the center of the film. The pink color is antihalation dye which has no relation to fixing other than that longer fixing can help remove it. But so can a good strong Perma-wash or other fixer eliminator bath followed by normal washing. Look past the pink dye to see if your negs have a cloudy, partly stained look in the center of the negs. If not, they're adequately fixed.

Larry

Markok765 · Jul 29, 2006

If you use plastic, load one strip, the put the other one in and so on.

Donald Qualls · Jul 30, 2006

RalphLambrecht said:
All, isn't this the proof that pink negatives are underfixed?

Not at all. Underfixed negatives are likely to be pink (at least in films that tend toward pink anyway), but a pink negative isn't necessarily underfixed -- the pink coloring clears as readily in a sodium sulfite solution similar to hypo clearing agent as it does with further fixing.

Negs not fixed enough?

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