Michal Leman Lemanski , Nov 20, 2009; 06:49 p.m.
Hi there,
Without this forum I would do nothing in my darkroom. However I have another question.
Would you Guys use the same chemicals ie solution of stop and fixer for printing and processing? To be more precise to use separate stop for printing and separate for processing ( and the same with fixer). Or it doesn't matter.
From my perspective I thing it is better to use separate ones just to avoid disappointment. For example Kodak lefts this strange colour in solutions after processing.
Any ideas appreciated.
Thanks
Bob Sunley 
, Nov 20, 2009; 07:11 p.m.
You can use the same chemicals, just have different working solutions, a set for prints and a set for film. Paper chems can pick up a lot of dust from the paper and from sitting in open trays.
Martin Dake , Nov 20, 2009; 07:20 p.m.
You can use the same stock chemicals for stop and fix . They may need to be mixed at different dilutions for film or paper.
Do not use the same working chemiclas though. Fixer used for paper then used for film is asking for trouble.
Brooks Gelfand , Nov 20, 2009; 08:44 p.m.
Stop bath is the same - both chemical and dilution for both paper and film.
Fixer is the same chemical but mixed in different dilutions for film or paper. I use Ilford Rapid fix; I mix it 1+4 for film, but 1+9 for paper.
Michal Leman Lemanski , Nov 21, 2009; 08:01 a.m.
Great,
Thanks soooooooo much.
Ok now is time to take an action in the daaaaaaaaaaarkrooooom
All the best
Oliver Racz , Nov 22, 2009; 11:16 p.m.
There are two things here. You can use the same chemicals to mix your working solution for paper and film. However, do not use the same working solution. Have one mixed for film, and one for paper.
Erwin Baeyens , Nov 23, 2009; 06:02 p.m.
I use the same stop for both film and paper, even the same bottle.
I use plain household vinegar, it says something like alcohol vinegar 7% in the bottle. I dilute this 1 part vinegar 2 parts water, which gives me a 2%-2.5% solution of acetic acid.
For fixer I use the standard Ilford rapid fixer diluted 1+4 for film and 1+9 for paper. The reason for using the 1+9 dilution is purely for cost reduction.
Mike King , Dec 03, 2009; 10:37 a.m.
My film stop bath is either very dilute acetic acid or white vinegar, one shot since I use only half as much acid as Kodak recommends in SB-1, but then I don't worry about developer carryover since I one shot it. My standard film fixer is Kodafix, I use a rotary processor so I do not need a lot of fixer and again use it one shot but with one exception, if I am going to make contact sheets during the same session I save my film dilution Kodafix and add the same volume of water to make a paper strength paper developer for that session. NOT for final prints and NOT for fiber base but OK for RC contact sheets.
