A stop bath is a solution used in photography to halt the development process of film or photographic paper. After the film has been exposed to a developer, the stop bath neutralizes the developer's action, preventing further changes to the image. This step is crucial for achieving the desired contrast and detail in the final photograph. Typically, a stop bath consists of a diluted acid solution, often made from acetic acid or citric acid. After soaking the film or paper in the stop bath for a short period, it is rinsed with water before moving on to the fixing stage, which permanently stabilizes the image.