Lab refuses to develop wet film?

hugopoon · May 17, 2010

Just remembered I have an undeveloped roll of XP2 that's about 6 months old.

I sent it to the lab to be developed, and they sent it back the next day saying that since the film was wet, they wouldn't develop it because it would damage the developer.

Was that a valid explanation?

Going to take it to another lab next week to see if they'll develop itnot sure if there're any images on it though, as I think that was the time I managed to rewind my F3 far too quickly. Still, definitely worth a try, as that was the only roll I got to put through the F3 before it died (damn these electronics!)

I can't imagine how the film could've gotten wet, other than that I did take it out during amber rain for about 2 hours without covering itbut surely the rewinding process would've scraped most of the water off

Rick A · May 17, 2010

I'm a tad confused. Did you mean you left the camera out in the rain, or you left the film in the rain (outside the cassett before rewinding)? Also, what is "amber rain"?

David A. Goldfarb · May 17, 2010

If the film is damp in the cassette, it's possible that the film could stick to itself and bits of emulsion could flake off when the film is removed from the cartridge, and those bits of emulsion could end up in the processing solutions and could deposit on other people's film, so I think it's reasonable for the lab to reject it. You might be able to find a professional lab that could hand process a single roll for you, if you think there is something important on the film.

SuzanneR · May 17, 2010

I had a roll of (color) film get wet once. Actually, I put it in the pocket of my jeans after exposing it, and it went through the washing machine. (oops) Once I figured it was damp, I just stuck the whole roll in a glass of water, and took it to the lab. (I figured, once wet, better to keep it really wet so it won't stick to itself as it dries). Of course the lab I took one look and said, "it's destroyed" you can't get anything out of it! (I didn't say it went through the washing machine, just that it had gotten damp, and I immersed it in the water.) Anyway, I told them I doubted I had destroyed it, and I want you to give it a go. They charged me a little extra to hang the film up to dry, and then they processed it. It all worked out. A few frames had some odd marks, but the pix actually came out very nicely!!

When I process film the first step is water.... so the water's not the problem. The ignorance of the lab techs can be the problem. But I would take it in personally, and talk to them about what to do with wet film.

brianmquinn · May 17, 2010

True once wet keep it wet and process ASAP. If film dries it will be be stuck to itself. I was on vacation when the someone with me had their camera bag (and themself) fall in a fast moving stream. Two cameras had their film soaked. We pulled the film from the cameras and stored them in their canisters filled to the top with water. Got them to a lab a few days later after we hiked out of the back country. Film developed perfectly with no defects. Just tell the lab and ask them to process it at as the last rolls sent through the machine before the chemistry is switched out. You will not get the freshest chemistry but the lab does not have to worry about ruining other rolls.

hugopoon · May 17, 2010

Amber rain is an indication of how much rain there is. I was out shooting with the camera — didn't leave it alone. Film was in the camera.

I just took out the film from the canister and…well…the emulsion from the leader seems to be…gooey and coming off…the film's probably glued itself together by now. Nothing important on it that I can remember…still worth a try?

Will remember the advice for next time though…always keep an empty canister handy and once film gets wet, keep it wet.

Edit: Also smells like a load of…

Darkroom317 · May 17, 2010

A few months ago I was out near waterfall with my RB67. I took my hands off the tripod to meter the scene and the whole setup turned over and slid into the water. I sent the film (Fuji Astia 100) off for processing. When I got it back most the frames came out right but a couple of frames had backing paper stuck to them, however, the film was not entirely destroyed. Of course with 35mm film would stick to itself if dried.

hugopoon · May 17, 2010

Darkroom317 said:
A few months ago I was out near waterfall with my RB67. I took my hands off the tripod to meter the scene and the whole setup turned over and slid into the water. I sent the film (Fuji Astia 100) off for processing. When I got it back most the frames came out right but a couple of frames had backing paper stuck to them, however, the film was not entirely destroyed. Of course with 35mm film would stick to itself if dried.

Whoa, what happened to the camera after that?

thisismyname09 · May 17, 2010

Being that it was an RB67, it probably split the earth and made a mile-long chasm.

lightwisps · May 17, 2010

If you wish I will try to develop it for you. lightwisps@yahoo.com Send it in a bottle of distilled water if possible. Don

hugopoon · May 17, 2010

thisismyname — completely believable explanation.

lightwisps — thanks for the offer, but I don't think I have any truly important photos on that roll (just testing the F3 really). I see you're in Ontario…and I'm in Hong Kong

Thanks everyone, for all the great help. Important lesson learnt today.

donbga · May 17, 2010

xxloverxx said:
Just remembered I have an undeveloped roll of XP2 that's about 6 months old.

I sent it to the lab to be developed, and they sent it back the next day saying that since the film was wet, they wouldn't develop it because it would damage the developer.

Was that a valid explanation?

Going to take it to another lab next week to see if they'll develop itnot sure if there're any images on it though, as I think that was the time I managed to rewind my F3 far too quickly. Still, definitely worth a try, as that was the only roll I got to put through the F3 before it died (damn these electronics!)

I can't imagine how the film could've gotten wet, other than that I did take it out during amber rain for about 2 hours without covering itbut surely the rewinding process would've scraped most of the water off

Yep, any film that isn't dry oe has an odor should not be processed. Nothing new there. It;s SOP for mass processing labs.

ozphoto · May 18, 2010

Had this happen on several occasions when I managed a lab; the worst was a photographer who had shot a wedding and then been invited to a movie-wrap party. As the night went on, copious amounts of alcohol were consumed and he ended up being tossed into the pool!

Naturally, he hadn't bothered to drop the film off to his studio prior to this and every roll got a right royal soaking. Unfortunately, chlorine and film do not play well together, and the film was virtually useless for anything other than a talking point for a "chlorinated water vs. film" discussion. Colour shifts, and emulsion peeling off were not a good sign, nor was the smell.

Ran all the rolls through separately from everybody else on the first run of the morning (he had called in a panic) and then ran 4 rolls of cheap unexposed film through to check for debris. All clear and test strips also came back within parameters.

It's the individual lab's call, but I don't think "wet" film is going to have an adverse effect on processing other films, provided they take care and check the process after running suspect films by themselves.

Stephen Frizza · May 18, 2010

As a lab owner I hate when people try and sneak something like this in as though I would never know. I run dip and dunk so I open every film canister and feel every film by hand. I have opened film canisters to find the contents drenched with coconut tanning oil, petrol, ocean water the list goes on. I wouldn't mind if someone came in and told me their film has had XYZ happen to it because I understand things happen and I could then take the best course of action required. But if someone has a major thing happen to a film and wants to try and sneak it by me. It annoys the hell out of me and in those cases I flatly say no to processing.

hugopoon · May 19, 2010

I would be annoyed if I were a lab owner as well, only, when I took the film out of the camera, I had no idea the film itself was wet. If I'd known, I would've sent a note with the film saying that the film was wet.

Darkroom317 · May 19, 2010

xxloverxx said:
Whoa, what happened to the camera after that?

Dried it out got the seals replaced, still using it. Had to buy a new polarized that got cracked and new waist level viewer that got smashed but other than that, hardly a scratch on it.

Anscojohn · May 19, 2010

xxloverxx said:
Amber rain is an indication of how much rain there is.
**********
I still do not under stand. Explain amber rain a bit more for this dunce.:confused:

PVia · May 19, 2010

Amber alert for rain is for potential heavy rainfall...

Amber Rain is a porn star...

Amazing what you'll learn on Google these days ;-)

hugopoon · May 19, 2010

Anscojohn said:
xxloverxx said:

Amber rain is an indication of how much rain there is.
**********
I still do not under stand. Explain amber rain a bit more for this dunce.:confused:

Click to expand...

If it's amber rain, it means there's a lot of rain
If it's a red signal, there's even more
If it's black, the streets'll probably start flooding and there'll be traffic jams everywhere.

Typhoon 1 is a very minor typhoon, barely noticeable
T3 is slightly more, but not much
T8 is when no one's allowed to go home from school (or come to school if it's in the morning)
Rain doesn't always come with a typhoon.

http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm < link to Hong Kong Observatory (weather report)

To quote the home page:
Amber Rainstorm Warning Signal Special Announcement issued at 3:35 p.m.
The Rainstorm Warning Signal is now Amber. This means that heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally over Hong Kong, exceeding 30 millimetres in an hour, and is likely to continue.

There will be flooding in some low-lying and poorly drained areas. People who are likely to be affected should take necessary precautions to reduce their exposure to risk posed by the heavy rain and flooding.

Please listen to radio or watch television for traffic conditions and further announcements on the rainstorm.

Lab refuses to develop wet film?

hugopoon

Rick A

David A. Goldfarb

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SuzanneR

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brianmquinn

hugopoon

Darkroom317

hugopoon

thisismyname09

lightwisps

hugopoon

donbga

ozphoto

Stephen Frizza

hugopoon

Darkroom317

Anscojohn

PVia

hugopoon

Lab refuses to develop wet film?

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Lab refuses to develop wet film?