Are bags inside of Photo Paper boxes completely light tight?

[Stock Dektol]

Well the question is simple. For instance if photo paper was stored in one of these "black bags" that come with photo paper only.. would the paper be ok? If this helps the paper in question is Ilford.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

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As a short-term-emergency-stop-gap-no-other-option-wrapped-up-tight-and-never-exposed-to-room-light method of storage? Sure. But light can leak in through corners not sealed COMPLETELY. And if the bag were to tear slightly, thus avoiding detection? I wouldn't risk it myself for normal storage.

 

[Stock Dektol]

And what if the bag itself (with paper) was exposed to room light for an extremely brief period? Ie. 3 seconds. The paper is somewhat new so I doubt the bag is ripped.

I've heard of the bags being light tight, hence my confusion.

 

[Sirius Glass]

And what if the bag itself (with paper) was exposed to room light for an extremely brief period? Ie. 3 seconds. The paper is somewhat new so I doubt the bag is ripped.

Probably not. We have all made that mistake for longer periods of time.

Steve

 

[Stock Dektol]

So... probably not what? Your saying the paper is probably not ruined?

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

it sounds like you have paper that has been stored this way for some time. I would take a sheet from the top and from the bottom. Put it straight in the developer and process it. If yo have dark spots/edges then there has been some exposure. If not, you're good to go.

 

[Stock Dektol]

Thanks Chris but,no, the paper was only exposed for a number of seconds (a short number). I don't have access to the paper at the moment so, I was just wondering.

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

I find bags that have been re-used several times will develop holes in the corners where they are folded and unfolded.

I have some large rolls of paper that I am cutting up, but am limited by the bags and boxes available, so I have been picking these things up where I can find them. Now, don't pee your pants laughing, but I test the bag for light-tightness and pinholes by putting it over my head and looking for leaks. In absence of pinholes at the corners, I would say the material is light-tight.

 

[Stock Dektol]

Thanks for the laugh Rich

 

[Travis Nunn]

...The paper is somewhat new so I doubt the bag is ripped...

I wouldn't assume that. I had a new 25-pack of paper that I opened up in the light to get the spec-sheet. When I got into the darkroom to do some printing, I found that every sheet had fogging on one corner. I looked at the bag closely and sure enough there was a small hole. It can happen.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

I accidentally opened a bag with the enlarger left on last week and, though only on the edges, there were some density marks along the edges due to exposure to the light from the enlarger so I would count on at least some exposure on at least some of the paper. Hard to say how extensive. You might test one sheet and if you can tell what portions of the paper might be affected you could always print around those areas and hope that it doesn't change form sheet to sheet.

 

[Sirius Glass]

So... probably not what? Your saying the paper is probably not ruined?

Probably not fogged. I cannot guarantee your results, but I have not fogged paper that way.

Steve

 

[Paul Sorensen]

...I test the bag for light-tightness and pinholes by putting it over my head and looking for leaks.

Don't they have the notice "This Bag is Not a Toy!"?

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

The part I left out was, I constrict it at the neck to avoid any stray light from entering. Spin it around a little, too.

 

[aluk]

Don't Ilford now sell paper with only the bag as packaging? Or is there some insert that provides extra light-proofing? I like my boxes, so haven't gotten any of the box-less paper yet.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

A local store in Denver was selling Kodak paper that way after Kodak got out of the paper biz. Seems that there weren't problems. I have had corner fogging myself, however, due to rips in the interior bag.

 

[Stock Dektol]

I accidentally opened a bag with the enlarger left on last week and, though only on the edges, there were some density marks along the edges due to exposure to the light from the enlarger so I would count on at least some exposure on at least some of the paper. Hard to say how extensive. You might test one sheet and if you can tell what portions of the paper might be affected you could always print around those areas and hope that it doesn't change form sheet to sheet.

Thanks for all the responses guys.
Chris,
The bag was not open. it was folded under the mass of paper yielding it "closed"

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Just throwin all the ideas out there. Hope all goes well.

 

[jmcd]

If the end was folded over I bet the bag protected your paper just fine.

In the old days a 100-foot can of film came in a can inside a box. Now there is no can, just a plastic bag, and film is much more light sensitive than paper.

Even so, I am not too crazy about depending on the integrity of a plastic bag.

 

[BetterSense]

I store my working stash of 8x10 in the darkroom in the naked black bag. The only thing holding it closed is the flap folded over and the weight of the paper holding it shut. It sits on the shelf; I leave it out and exposed to white light like that. I haven't had any trouble at all doing this.

 

[Bob-D659]

Ilford do pack 5x7 paper in bags only, but it is double bagged.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Ilford do pack 5x7 paper in bags only, but it is double bagged.

Paper or plastic?

If it was one of each would that be bi-sackual? :rolleyes:

Steve

 

[Bob-D659]

Plastic, appears to be the same material as the bags in the boxes.

No idea.

 

[PHOTOTONE]

The bags-as they leave the factory-are light tight. The sharp edges of film and paper can and sometimes do punch a small pinhole in the bag. Film particularly. It is never a good idea to leave film or paper out in room light just in the black inner bag. Kodak, and formerly Agfa/Germany and Forte (both now defunct) packaged their film products in thick sealed foil and paper bags that were hermetically sealed. These bags, before opening are quite safe to leave out.

I have been using a bit of X-ray film lately, and I am quite amused at the flimsy packaging. The outer single layer boxes just have fold-over lids, and you can see the black plastic inner bag through the corners of the end of the box you open. But I haven't yet had any xray film fog. X-ray film has an ISO of about 100. But, of course, one of the reasons for using X-ray film is the cheap price. The film is cheaper than b/w photo paper (RC).

 

[RJS]

New bags have always been light tight for me. After opening and closing more than a few times I would become concerned due to wear. I've never had a problem with either film or paper bags properly re-folded after removing from the box.