Film & darkroom
Developer, stop bath and fixer: what each stage does
Three named baths with different jobs, rather than three interchangeable bottles.
A tray or tank sequence is easier to follow when each bath has a purpose. The names refer to stages in the process, not strengths of the same liquid. Keep film and paper recipes separate even when a product can be used with both.
Three different tasks
In a traditional black-and-white workflow, the developer produces the visible image, an appropriate stop bath brings development to an end, and the fixer removes undeveloped silver halides. ILFORD describes ILFOSTOP as a citric-acid stop bath; RAPID FIXER is a non-hardening fixer. Neither is a replacement for a developer.
Evidence: Product documentation · Product documentation
Label the route
Our bench layout uses large stage names in processing order. Add the exact product, working dilution and mixing date beneath each one. Match that label to the written process sheet before pouring. A used solution belongs in its designated container, rather than an unlabelled jug waiting for somebody to recognise it.
Film and paper differ
RAPID FIXER’s technical sheet gives different times and working options for general-purpose film, resin-coated paper and fibre-based paper. Consult the row for your material, not the first number in the table. A product working in several processes does not make those processes identical.
Evidence: Technical data sheet
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.
- ILFORD PHOTO — ILFOSTOP stop bathProduct documentation
- ILFORD PHOTO — RAPID FIXERProduct documentation
- ILFORD PHOTO — RAPID FIXER technical dataTechnical data sheet