The DARKROOM COOKBOOK, Third Edition

274 THE DARKROOM COOKBOOK
FORMULA #134
TF-2
Alkaline Fixer
(Bill Troop)
Due to its alkalinity, this fi xer will wash out of negative and print materials more rapidly
than will an acid fi xer. This fi xer should be odorless.
Water, 750.0 ml
Sodium thiosulfate, 250.0 g
Sodium sulfi te, 15.0 g
Sodium metaborate, 10.0 g
Water to make 1.0 liter
Use undiluted for either fi lm or paper. Follow development by a 60-second plain water rinse
or a minimum of 5 full changes of water. Fix fi lms for 3 times the clearing time, or a minimum
of 5 minutes, agitating for a full 30 seconds during each minute. Fix paper for 10 full minutes
with occasional agitation.
The capacity of TF-2 is twenty 8 � 10� prints or fi lms per liter.
FORMULA #135
TF-3
Alkaline Rapid Fixer
(Bill Troop)
As with TF-2, this fi xer will wash out of negative and print materials more rapidly than
will an acid fi xer. It has the added advantage of fi xing fi lms and papers in less than half the
time of the TF-2 alkaline fi xer.
This formula is similar to Photographers’ Formulary TF-4. However, TF-4 is more concentrated
and slightly less alkaline. The greater concentration of Formulary TF-4 increases the
fi xing capacity to fi fty 8 � 10� prints or fi lms per liter; the slightly lower alkalinity of TF-4
decreases the ammonium odor.
Ammonium thiosulfate, 57–60% solution, 800.0 ml
Sodium sulfi te, 60.0 g
Sodium metaborate, 5.0 g
Water to make 1.0 liter
Dilute 1:4 for either fi lm or paper. Follow development by a 60-second plain water rinse or
a minimum of 5 full changes of water. Fix fi lms for 3 minutes, agitating for a full 30 seconds
during each minute. Fix paper for 1 full minute with continuous agitation.