Kodak TF-2 Alkaline Fixer
Kodak's classic alkaline fixer—it rinses out quickly and is gentle on old or tinted emulsion.
About Fixage
Kodak TF-2 fixer has been familiar to photography enthusiasts for decades. What makes it interesting is that it has an alkaline pH, which allows it to wash out of the photographic layer more quickly and is gentle on the photoemulsion—this is especially important when processing old photographic materials with a weak or damaged emulsion. In addition, this fixer is ideal for fixing materials after processing in color developers and has virtually no effect on the color of the prints.
Character
Alkaline type. It is washed out of the photolayer more quickly, is gentle on the weakened emulsions of older materials, and has almost no effect on the color of the prints after the use of color developers.
How to Prepare and Use
- 1The fixing time is standard, as with neutral or acidic fixing; more precisely, it is defined as three times the time required to develop the photographic material in this solution.
- 2Before fixing, rinse the material thoroughly under running water for at least 40 seconds (or use a stop bath)—the working solution does not tolerate large amounts of alkali carried over from the developer.
- 3The depletion of the solution is accurately determined using the Hypo Check test.
Recipe for 1 liter
Chemical structures: PubChem (public domain)
Mixing it at home
An alkaline Kodak fixer based on sodium thiosulfate.
- 1Pour about 700 ml of warm water (40 °C) into a 1-liter container.
- 2Dissolve the sodium thiosulfate (250 g) first, followed by the anhydrous sodium sulfite (15 g), and then the sodium tetraborate (borax) (10 g); Add each substance only after the previous one has completely dissolved, stirring constantly.
- 3Let the solution cool to room temperature, bring the volume up to 1 liter, and filter it if necessary.
Key points
- The alkaline type washes out of the emulsion faster and is gentle on the weakened layers of old materials; check exhaustion with the Hypo Check test.