Re-fixing film a weeks later

[Garb]

I realized I may have underfixed my film due to exhausted fixer (I just thought it was fogged at first).

Any special considerations around re-fixing in fresh fixer, now that a few weeks have passed since the initial development?

Here is what I was able to glean by searching online:
- Some people say re-fixing does nothing after 24 hours has passed
- Some suggest re-soaking the film in water for 30 minutes first
- Some suggest that the emulsion may have become easier to damage so has be handled gentler

It's Neopan Presto 400 if that makes any difference.

 

[koraks]

- Some people say re-fixing does nothing after 24 hours has passed

They're wrong.

- Some suggest re-soaking the film in water for 30 minutes first

Not necessary.

- Some suggest that the emulsion may have become easier to damage so has be handled gentler

Never bothered me; there's no need to touch the wet emulsion side anyway, so just handle with the normal amount of care.

Go ahead and refix those negatives! I refixed a bunch of color negatives the other day. Some had spent months sitting in a folder before I detected the problem... https://tinker.koraks.nl/photography/how-i-broke-my-fixer/

 

[Sirius Glass]

If the film needs more fixing, then the sooner it is done the better. As @koraks pointed out, no special handling is needed, just put it in the fixer, wash and hand to dry.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Underfixed film that has been exposed to light for a time may have "developed out" non-image-forming silver halides. This will result in a bit of fog and is irreversible. No big deal if it is not excessive. There's nothing you can do about it anyway, just print through it.

As for refixing: I'd recommend a water presoak for a few minutes before fixing. Do use fresh fixer and fix for the entire fixing time (i.e., don't think you can use half the fixing time because the film is already half fixed). Wash, Photo Flo and dry as usual.

Best,

Doremus

 

[MattKing]

I'm with Doremus on the presoak front - but then I tend to believe in presoaking.
With prints, I always presoak before toning, so I guess I think of presoaking film before re-fixing the same way.
If nothing else, it will help remove the trace amount of Photoflo or similar drying aid before it goes into the fixer.

 

[koraks]

Underfixed film that has been exposed to light for a time may have "developed out" non-image-forming silver halides.

Printed out, not developed out.

@Don_ih did a test on this not long ago and proved IMO convincingly that it's not really a practical problem. I thought it would be, but surely, it isn't.

 

[Don_ih]

@koraks is referring to this thread. I'm sure that an extended length of time would have had an irreversible impact on the unfixed film - I was only aiming to show that unfixed film could be kept for a week in a relatively unprotected state (i.e., exposed to some amount of light) and still clear.

 

[titrisol]

It should be fine, the longer you wait the more chance you have of image damage but do it nonetheless.

IN the same thread Ralph Lambrecht mentioned refixing film after 10 years!!

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Printed out, not developed out.

@Don_ih did a test on this not long ago and proved IMO convincingly that it's not really a practical problem. I thought it would be, but surely, it isn't.

Yep, printing out as in the now-defunct printing-out papers (POP). Thanks for catching my slip.

Doremus

 

[koraks]

printing out as in the now-defunct printing-out papers (POP).

Yeah...one of the appealing reasons to even think about DIY silver gelatin emulsions...

 

[Doremus Scudder]

I love the look of the old gold-toned POP papers. And those shadows!

 

[lamerko]

I have film developed about 30 or more years ago (from my childhood period) that seems to be blurry precisely because of insufficient fixation. I'm going to run a section of it tomorrow to see if it has any effect, but I think it will clear up

 

[koraks]

I love the look of the old gold-toned POP papers. And those shadows!

No curve - just a long straight line!

 

[Don_ih]

I have film developed about 30 or more years ago (from my childhood period) that seems to be blurry precisely because of insufficient fixation. I'm going to run a section of it tomorrow to see if it has any effect, but I think it will clear up

I'd like to know if fixing film that old will do anything. It's pretty much guaranteed that enough exposure to light will print out the silver to an extent that it can't be fixed clear. But maybe your negatives haven't been in the light that much. It would be good to know if time on its own is also enough to make the unfixed silver a permanent stain.

 

[koraks]

Over a period of 30 years, the likelihood is that all silver will have converted into silver sulfide due to impurities in the air and storage materials. Silver sulfide won't fix out.

 

[Garb]

Thanks all. I'll fix it again next time I'm home (I'm traveling for the next few weeks).

The underfixed film is indeed exposed to light. I still have it hanging to dry with a light on. I didn't have time to take it down before heading out. But sounds like this is not a practical problem.