Why is film washed immediately after removing it from the developing solution?

The correct answer is that film is washed immediately after being removed from the developing solution to stop the developing process. This step is crucial because the chemicals in the developer can continue to act on the film if not removed promptly. If the film remains in the developer solution for too long, it can lead to overdevelopment, resulting in increased density and contrast that may not accurately represent the image intended. The washing process helps to halt any further reaction and stabilizes the image captured on the film.

Washing is usually done with water to thoroughly rinse off any residual developing agents. This is essential for achieving the desired quality of the final image and ensuring that it does not degrade over time, which relates to the preservation aspects, but the main purpose is to immediately terminate the development process.