Is the film destroyed?

[jordanstarr]

So I was keeping a few boxes of 4x5 film in the fridge and a container of juice tipped and spilt over everything. My roomate cleans everything up when he finds it back from work, washes everything off (wipes down the boxes of film) and says nothing. Now, 1 month later I reach back and grab the deformed boxes of film. I take it apart in a changing back and the film doesn't seem to be damaged, but could it be? Is the packaging it's in waterproof? Maybe it will just affect the first couple sheets on either side? What do you guys think? I'll be developing this later in the week, but just curious about some answers right now. I'll report my findings after.

 

[JBrunner]

If the film was sealed in its foil envelope, it's fine.

 

[Konical]

Good Morning, Jordan,

You don't mention the type of film, but assuming that the sealed foil wrappers are intact, all the film should be OK. I seem to recall that I once used some cheapo non-Kodak sheet film which was not in moisture-proof packaging, but I it's been a long time, and I'm not certain about that.

Konical

 

[Ian Grant]

The only film I buy in sealed foil is Kodak or Fuji, others aren't totally airtight, some in black bags etc. others in thick paper.

Ian

 

[jordanstarr]

There was some Tmax, Tri-x and some Ilford HP5 and FP4. I failed to mention that the Ilford film is not in a SEALED packaged, but it's a thick and folded over. I was thinking some moisture would get it, but I fiddled around with it in a changing bag and the cardboard seemed perfect and none of the film was not stuck together, so I'm assuming it would be good, but would it maybe have spots on it from moisture?

 

[JBrunner]

There was some Tmax, Tri-x and some Ilford HP5 and FP4. I failed to mention that the Ilford film is not in a SEALED packaged, but it's a thick and folded over. I was thinking some moisture would get it, but I fiddled around with it in a changing bag and the cardboard seemed perfect and none of the film was not stuck together, so I'm assuming it would be good, but would it maybe have spots on it from moisture?

In the case of the stuff that wasn't sealed we can postulate all day. The odds are it's ok, but you won't know until you shoot and process few sheets.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Best I could suggest would be to make a quick test exposure with one of the sheets on the end and process it to see what you get. That works out you're probably OK.

 

[canuhead]

Ever since my basement freezer thawed during a power outage and things got wet, I now keep all my boxes of sheet film in ziploc or shopping bags.

 

[Bob F.]

If the film is inside an unsealed black plastic bag (such as with Ilford film) then you might want to move the film to a spare box and have a look inside the original box to see if any juice penetrated to the inner tray. If so, feel the edges of the film in the dark with freshly washed hands to check that there is no juice residue on it.

I doubt that the light will have got in. I left two boxes of HP5+ at the back of the fridge for a couple of years where water drained down the wall of the fridge. Although the boxes were heavily warped and even de-laminating due to the moisture, the film inside the plastic bag was fine - I just moved the film to spare boxes.

I now double-bag all my stored film...

Good luck, Bob.

 

[Ian Grant]

There is a lot of moisture in a refrigerator anyway so unless there was actual seepage into the Ilford black bags damage is very unlikely, the first signs are sheets of film sticking together, which you says hasn't happened. You need to try some and see what it turns out like.

Ian

 

[drpsilver]

24 Nov 2008

Jordanstarr:

I had a similar experience to you except it was in the field with Delta 100. I had kept the box of film (in a plastic bag) in a cooler (with ice) to keep the film at a more or less stable temperature while photographing in the desert. Unfortunately the ice melted and the plastic bag failed. The box was soaked. I let the box (with film) dry. Wren I used the film to load some holders for my next shoot I found that there was no damage to the film at all. The folded over plastic bag kept most moisture out. This may not be true if the box was totally submerged for any length of time.

Thank you Ilford for packaging your film so well.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[jordanstarr]

The bags would be smart, but I just haven't gotten around to it. Most of my film is in bags, but for this stuff, I simply tossed it in the fridge, then the film piled up and stayed in the back. I just found a couple boxes of really old Plus-x that were part of this, but luckily it's sealed as well. Thanks everyone for your feedback. I'll post my results when I shoot a couple of sheets later on this week.

 

[jordanstarr]

...the film developed fine. I had some old plus-x developed and a few sheets of the fp4. worked like new.

 

[JBrunner]

...the film developed fine. I had some old plus-x developed and a few sheets of the fp4. worked like new.

Sweet!