Response to Should fixer-clearing time on Tmax include colour removal?

Films should be fixed for two to three times the clearing time, usually the latter for t-grain type films. Clearing is defined as removing the (unexposed) silver halide density from the film, no milkiness, ignoring any blue of purple cast. The colors are leftover sensitizing dyes and can be ignored or removed. To remove leftover dye just use a wash aid, as you should be doing anyway. You can easily make a wash aid by dissolving a tablespoon of sodium sulfite in a quart of water; after fixing, bathe the film in the wash aid for two to three minutes. Then give the standard wash; you'll have no purple or blue negs. There's NO NEED to fix forever to get rid of the dye. Also, one caveat; commercial wash aids often specify a very short wash time, such as five minutes. Although I haven't tested, I don't buy that; I don't think there's really sufficient changes of water in such a short time, so I give the standard 20-30 minute wash.

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