can you over fix B&W film???

**stradibarrius** · 22-Jul-2012, 12:11

can you over fix B&W film, if so what are the results?

**Leigh** · 22-Jul-2012, 12:14

No.

Regardless of fixing time, be sure to wash thoroughly, using an appropriate hypo clearing agent and following its instructions.

- Leigh

**Brian C. Miller** · 22-Jul-2012, 12:38

While Adams, in The Negative, shows the results of over-fixing, I don't think that modern films can be over-fixed. The emulsions have been improved tremendously.

**Brian Ellis** · 22-Jul-2012, 12:43

My understanding is that excessive fixing can cause bleaching in the negatives, i.e. the removal of image-forming silver in addition to the silver halides that the fixer is supposed to remove. But I've never had that happen and don't recall where I read it.

**Leigh** · 22-Jul-2012, 12:56

My "no" response was based on the supposition that you were talking about tens of minutes, not tens of days.

- Leigh

**stradibarrius** · 22-Jul-2012, 13:16

Well more like 30-45 mins. Say the phone rang and you had to answer it and couldn't tend to your negatives.

**Leigh** · 22-Jul-2012, 13:23

Yeah, that's tens of minutes, as I suspected.

- Leigh

**Andrew O'Neill** · 22-Jul-2012, 13:23

I don't know about regular fix but I once carelessly left a 4x5 sheet of HP5 over night in ilford rapid fix. The solution hit 30C ( I was living in Japan at the time) from sitting overnight. A contact print showed that it had slightly darker shadows when compared to another negative that received the normal 5 min fix. I would have to say that over fixing can be bad but you have to work at it.

**stradibarrius** · 22-Jul-2012, 13:29

Another bit of information to add to my forgetful brain...

**jk0592** · 22-Jul-2012, 14:08

Another bit of information to add...

You are not the only one. I did not now that one could go on fixing film "forever". Usually I am not to be disturbed when developing film, and family members are aware of this.