Question about my positive fixing process

TR · 2012-02-10T03:49:23+00:00

Hallo allerseits. Ich benutze, um meine kartonstarken Barytbilder zu fixieren, den Adofix. In (besserer?) Literatur wird die Zweibadfixage empfohlen, was ic...

TR

Hello everyone. I use Adofix to fix my baryta prints on card stock. The ‘better’ literature recommends a two-bath fixing process, which I have also been using for some time now. This is what my fixing process looks like: I prepare the Adofix in a very high concentration of 1+4 (as also recommended on the packaging) for two sheets at a time. Keeping the sheets in constant motion, I fix them for one minute in bath I. Then another minute in bath II. Done. Is that really all there is to it? This saves me time and gives me good control over the fixing process, as every sheet undergoes the same fixing time and the cardboard has less time to soak up the chemicals. But two minutes of fixing sounds a bit short, doesn’t it? Sometimes excessive fixing times of up to 45 minutes are recommended when using baryta paper. What do you think? Thomas

andreasdegner

Hello Thomas, In which medieval literature is a 45-minute fixing time recommended? I’m sure you’re referring to a recommendation for washing. I also use the two-bath fixing method with baryta (it all made sense to me after reading Wollstein’s column). The same author also believes that with a 1+4 solution, even 30 seconds of fixing per bath is sufficient provided there is good agitation, meaning a total fixing time of just one minute... Best regards, Andreas

TR

Hi Andreas, the 45-minute recommendation comes from our head of the university lab. But she’s also from the old ‘Orwo school’. That’s right: Wallenstein’s column. That’s it – that’s where I read it too. I wouldn’t dare try 30 seconds, though. Well, we can always leave them soaking all day in the university lab. By the way, it seems all the lovely pages of the S/W magazine have been deleted. Thomas

andreasdegner

Hi Thomas, I was surprised to find just now that the pages have been taken down... I was actually going to send you the link. But you’re obviously already familiar with this source. Fortunately, I saved the whole column at some point; it’s well worth a read. The article in question also describes how to use potassium iodide solution to determine the silver content of the fixer and how, for images that have already been processed, you can at least establish whether they have been insufficiently fixed. I wanted to try that out myself at some point anyway. In any case, with your total of 2 minutes, you’re on the safe side. Best regards Andreas

Wolfgg

The internet never forgets; here’s the Wollstein again: http://web.archive.org/web/20090419153934/http://www.schwarzweiss-magazin.de/swmag_frame_wollstein.htm Regards, Wolfgang