HC110 or Pyrocat HD for FP4

[IanG]

Second the use of Hypam, or Ilford Rapid Fixer, after Pyrocat. It's better to use a slightly acid fixer particularly when using water instead of acid stop bath.

Ian

[sanking]

Second the use of Hypam, or Ilford Rapid Fixer, after Pyrocat. It's better to use a slightly acid fixer particularly when using water instead of acid stop bath.

Ian

I answer a lot of private email on the question of alkaline versus acid fixer for Pyrocat-HD so thought it might be appropriate to respond.

In The Book of Pyro Gordon Hutchings advises the use of an alkaline fixer with PMK and I assume that he still does. Years ago when I used PMK I generally followed this advice, though in some personal tests I did not find that the use of a slightly acidic fixer had any negative impact on the stain.

When I first developed and introduced the Pyrocat-HD formula I also recommended the use of an alkaline fixer. My thinking at this time is that it does not make any difference whether one uses with Pyrocat-HD an alkaline fixer or one that is slightly acidic.

My personal procedure for negatives developed in Pyrocat is to use an acid stop bath of about 1/2 normal strength, followed by an alkaline fixer like the Formulary TF-4.

Sandy King

[Gem Singer]

FYI,

The Photographer's Formulary now has an improved version of their TF-4 fixer.

TF-5 has little, or no odor and is no longer formulated in a super-saturated milky solution that required shaking before use.

I prefer keeping the entire process alkaline eliminating the unpleasant smell of acetic acid stop bath.

[Richard Wasserman]

[QUOTE=Gem Singer;556823
I prefer keeping the entire process alkaline eliminating the unpleasant smell of acidic stop bath.[/QUOTE]


Citric acid makes a good odor-free stop bath.

Pyrocat HD and FP-4 is my primary 4x5 combination, they are great together.