What is the primary effect of putting the exposed film in fixer before developer?

The primary effect of placing the exposed film in fixer before developer is the complete removal of silver halide crystals. In the photographic development process, the fixer serves to remove unexposed silver halide crystals from the film, thereby stopping any further reactions. When the film is fixed without first being developed, the unexposed portions remain intact, allowing for a clearer distinction between the areas that were exposed to light and those that were not.

This process is vital because fixing the film before development ensures that only the areas that were properly exposed and developed show a latent image while the unexposed areas are rendered clear, preventing them from contributing to the final image. The development step typically follows fixation in standard practice, but in this case, the question focuses on the effects of fixing first, emphasizing the role of the fixer in removing unwanted silver halide crystals from the film, which contributes to overall image clarity and ensures that the final output maintains appropriate contrast and visibility.

Understanding this relationship is crucial in photographic processing and ensures that the final image is representative of what was intended during exposure.