Safelight on pan film; is there any hope?

[ntenny]

I just bought some 9x12 film holders, opened them under a (dim) safelight, and found that at least two of them have film in them. (There are about four more I can't open---the seller had a creative idea of "very good condition".)

Based on the notch code list at Wikipedia, it looks like it's Super XX Pan: two small V notches and nothing else. I assume I probably blew the first sheet away by leaving it open while I tried to figure out if it was film, the surface of a plate, a paper insert, or what, but the second sheet was only briefly exposed.

First of all, did they even *make* Super XX Pan in 9x12?---and is there any chance it's something else, or are the notch codes pretty reliable?

Second, is it even worth my while to try to develop this stuff, or is the safelight a complete kiss of death for pan film?

I have no idea how I'm going to get the remaining holders open. Research continues.

Any advice, thoughts, &c. welcome.

-NT

 

[glbeas]

The film it toast. If the stuck filmholders are wood it may be the wood is swollen from moisture and a stint in a warm oven might help. When you finally do get them open they need cleaning and wax on the darkslide edges.

 

[fschifano]

Yes, a safelight is "the kiss of death" for a panchromatic film. By definition it is sensitive to all wavelengths of visible light. Sorry.

 

[DannL]

I'm gonna guess they probably supplied the film in 9x12. If not, somebody may have cut down 4x5 to fit, which I doubt. (Even though I cut my own all the time). Sounds like the darkside is rusted in the grooves of the holder. WD40 applied with a Q-Tip and allowed to soak over night might loosen the rust. Used sparingly of course. Just thowing out some ideas. I received a batch of holders the other day where 7 still had plates. Too bad they were still unexposed when I developed them.

 

[Bobby Ironsights]

You probably fogged the image, but a brief exposure might not be as bad as you think it is if the film is reasonably slow. Panchromatic film is sensitive to all wavelengths of light....KINDA-SORTA!!!

It's vastly more sensitive to blue and green than it is to red, and if your safelight was dim....well...you get the picture.

This effect can yield unexpected results. My GF's red freckles which are completely invisible to me under her makeup that she just has to smear on when I make formal portraits, show up clear as day on film. Her strawberry red hair needs seperate lighting because it shows up practically black on "pan" film.

Develop it, see what you get, you might just get interesting but very dense negs that are hard to print and lack contrast... It's definitely worth a shot.