Paper fix: fuchsia, purple color

[InExperience]

Hello everyone,

A simple question, when I print my photo on darkroom, after some fixing this liquid becomes slightly purple or fuchsia.

I use to wash the paper when I pass it from developer to stop then to fix.

Why I get this color on the fix? Can it damage my print?

Thank you

 

[pentaxuser]

Some more details of your process might be helpful such as how many prints can you fix before it goes fuchsia-coloured, how often do you change the fix etc

We need to know more before we can give you a possible cause

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

That sounds like over-used stop bath getting into the fixer.
Or even more, like over-used stop bath in the fixer tray!

 

[Rudeofus]

Why would this require "overused" stop bath? Stop bath tends to be quite dilute, and a well buffered fixer will set the pH to something where the carryover stop bath will be some form of purple.

Either way, the color will likely wash out at the end and will have no effect on the prints.

 

[Valerie]

Indicator stop turns purple when exhausted/over -used.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Indicator stop bath carried over to an alkaline fixer can cause this. If the stop bath was expired then it too would be a lovely purple color.

 

[pentaxuser]

The problem we have is that none of this so far has been explained to us. Hopefully the OP will give us much more detail about the whole process. It just seems strange that if the stop bath has become purple when it was originally stop-coloured that this wasn't mentioned.

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

If you are using a dark coloured tray for stop, it is difficult to see the change in colour - particularly under safelight.

 

[Rudeofus]

I believe, that the OP has explained the situation quite well. The confusing part is, where even a water rinse between stop bath and fixer still does not prevent the purple discoloration.

Here are some experiments to investigate this in depth:

1. Take a small amount of fresh fixer and add a few droplets of fresh stop bath. Does the color turn to purple?
   
2. Take a small amount of this purple fixer and add white vinegar or Citric Acid. Does the color turn to yellow?
3. Increase the water rinse time between stop bath and fixer. Does the discoloration become weaker?

 

[InExperience]

I believe, that the OP has explained the situation quite well. The confusing part is, where even a water rinse between stop bath and fixer still does not prevent the purple discoloration.

Here are some experiments to investigate this in depth:

1. Take a small amount of fresh fixer and add a few droplets of fresh stop bath. Does the color turn to purple?
   
2. Take a small amount of this purple fixer and add white vinegar or Citric Acid. Does the color turn to yellow?
3. Increase the water rinse time between stop bath and fixer. Does the discoloration become weaker?

Thank you for all your replies.

The Stop bath is yellow color. After this bath for 1 minute, I move the paper into an empty tray and rise it for 5 sec, under fresh water. After take the photo and put into the fix.
I use on my session BERGGER Varialbe NB and ILFORD MG ART 300.

@Rudeofus I can give a chance to use your suggests.

This weekend I will discard the Stop bath and Fix to reset everything. I will let you know if after 10 prints the problem reappears.

Thank you

 

[pentaxuser]

Thank you for all your replies.

The Stop bath is yellow color. After this bath for 1 minute, I move the paper into an empty tray and rise it for 5 sec, under fresh water. After take the photo and put into the fix.

@Rudeofus I can give a chance to use your suggests.

This weekend I will discard the Stop bath and Fix to reset everything. I will let you know if after 10 prints the problem reappears.

Thank you

Given what you have now told us, your stop bath is the colour it should be and in addition you even rinse the remnants of stop in water before immersing the print in fixer, I just cannot think of a reason why the fixer turns purple.

I don't think you have said how many prints you fix before replenishing the fixer according to the fixer maker's instructions or alternatively dumping the fix and replacing all of it. However if the fix is exhausted but is uncontaminated by other liquids then I am still puzzled where the purple colour comes from.

I take it that no sulphurous smell is coming from the fixer as if it did smell this way you would have said

Thanks for promising to let us know the outcome of your actions

pentaxuser

 

[removedacct1]

I’ve seen a lavender tint appear in TF-5 fixer every time I use it for fixing paper, no matter how fresh the stop bath.

 

[MattKing]

The OP still hasn't told us what brand and type of stop bath and fixer he/she is using. Particularly with Ilford 300, if the stop bath employs bromocresol purple indicator and the fixer is neutral to alkaline, the paper may be carrying enough indicator over to the fixer to trigger the purple response.

 

[pentaxuser]

Particularly with Ilford 300, if the stop bath employs bromocresol purple indicator and the fixer is neutral to alkaline, the paper may be carrying enough indicator over to the fixer to trigger the purple response.

Matt, would this still be the case when the print is rinsed under fresh water for 5 secs before transfer to such a neutral to alkaline fixer which is what he says he does

So, Inexperience, what is the kind of paper and the make of fixer?
Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

Matt, would this still be the case when the print is rinsed under fresh water for 5 secs before transfer to such a neutral to alkaline fixer which is what he says he does

That is why I referenced Ilford 300 - it has the capacity to absorb a lot of chemistry!