How long to defrost?

Mike Kennedy · Dec 6, 2006

I tucked away a box of Ilford postcard 3 years ago in the deep freeze. Thought I'd do up a few X-mas cards today.
How long should I wait befor using this paper.

Thank You

David H. Bebbington · Dec 6, 2006

I'd say 12 hours to be sure, although you'd probably get away with 6 (with the paper in a room at 20°C).

Regards,

David

fhovie · Dec 6, 2006

The only concern is water condensation. If it is really dry - you can use it as soon as it is in operating temp range - 40F? If there is moisture in the air - you need to wait till it is room temp to open it. I live in the desert - I can pull a roll of film out of the freezer and load it 5 or 10 minutes later.

Bromo33333 · Dec 6, 2006

I think it depends upon the relative humidity if you want to use it when it is cold since you are trying to avoid condensation on the film.

Otherwise, you have to wait until it is room temperature. If you take it out of the freezer the night before you should be OK.

Dave Parker · Dec 6, 2006

Living here in the rockies where the humidity is very low, I can shoot or print in 1/2 hour with no problems at all, I normally try to let everything come up to room temp so I don't have to worry about any moisture, Temp is not what you need to worry about, condensation is the killer if you have a high moisture content in the air, when I lived in Hawaii, sometimes 12 hours was not enough.

Dave

Mike Kennedy · Dec 7, 2006

Thanks All.

Just to be sure I left the package to unthaw overnight.

I always learn a thing or two when I post to APUG and there's still a lot to learn. Ya gotta love it!

tim rudman · Dec 7, 2006

Mike Kennedy said:
I tucked away a box of Ilford postcard 3 years ago in the deep freeze. Thought I'd do up a few X-mas cards today.
How long should I wait befor using this paper.

Thank You

In my experience the problems are pretty small with paper in larger sizes (I don't use postcard size & so have no experience). The huge surface area (especially on larger sheets) compared with its mass means that it is useable very quickly. I would take fim a lot slower and observe the anti condesation points raised above, notably don't unwrap until thawed out
Tim

Gerald Koch · Dec 7, 2006

Mike Kennedy said:
Just to be sure I left the package to unthaw overnight.

This must be a canadian expression, "unthaw"? ;-)

John Koehrer · Dec 7, 2006

Gerald Koch said:
This must be a canadian expression, "unthaw"? ;-)

Translating from the Canadian: It means "Freeze"

How long to defrost?

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