Storing exposed film - is refrigeration necessary?

logan2z · Mar 23, 2020

I've got a few rolls of 120 B&W film awaiting lab development as the lab I use is currently shutdown due to the coronavirus. I live in a pretty low humidity location and currently have not stored the rolls in the refrigerator or freezer. I've read mixed opinions about refrigerating exposed film due to concerns over humidity/condensation that can mottle exposed film.

Given that it could be a while before this film is developed is it worth the risk (if any) to refrigerate it or will the latent images be unaffected in a low humidity, room temperature environment?

jim10219 · Mar 23, 2020

Since it could be a while, I'd probably freeze it. I've developed film before that was exposed several years prior (around 10), and it did okay. It was grainier than it should have been, and the colors had shifted, but I was able to get usable prints from them. Not fine art quality prints, but family photo album worthy.

However, freezing or refrigerating is probably the best option. To prevent condensation, place the rolls of film in a Ziploc bag and squeeze all of the air out of it before sealing it up. Then place that in the freezer. When you go to remove it, leave it in the sealed Ziploc bag until it warms back up to room temperature (a couple of hours). Then it's safe to open the bag and handle the film. That's what I usually do, and it always works for me. Even in the case of large format sheet film, where I'm constantly freezing, thawing, and refreezing boxes of film, I haven't had any issues with condensation.

pentaxuser · Mar 23, 2020

It can't do any harm to store in the fridge if you have the room. The only film I know of where latent image loss is a real possibility over say 3+ months is Pan F. From everything about Pan F I have read, time is the killer here and storage in a fridge does not slow this down or certainly not appreciably Perhaps others will comment on this

pentaxuser

BradS · Mar 23, 2020

I wouldn’t worry about it too much. A few weeks at low humidity and moderate room temps is not gonna matter. Putting the exposed rolls in a ziplock bag and in the fridge, or better yet a wine fridge, would be fine but I definitely would NOT freeze it.

Ariston · Mar 23, 2020

It will probably be okay in the closet. The fridge won't hurt, though. Or you could order some chemicals and develop it yourself right away.

Sirius Glass · Mar 23, 2020

Put the film in a ZipLok bag, push out as much air as possible, zip and refrigerate. Freezing might cause ice crystals if you have some humidity so I would not recommend that you freeze it.

logan2z · Mar 23, 2020

Ariston said:
Or you could order some chemicals and develop it yourself right away.

I figure there's a greater chance of the film being ruined by my novice attempts at home development than storing it and waiting for the lab to reopen

MattKing · Mar 23, 2020

Film is designed to withstand room temperature and moderate humidity well.
Save the refrigerator and freezer space for perishables.
A plastic bin under your bed should be fine.
Leave notes with them about when or where you took the photos, plus which EI you used when metering and any other technical bits that you might want to remember when you see the results.

pentaxuser · Mar 23, 2020

logan2z said:
I figure there's a greater chance of the film being ruined by my novice attempts at home development than storing it and waiting for the lab to reopen

I seriously doubt this about your novice attempts. We were all first-timers when we did our first film. Yes there can be and are occasional problems for a few people and naturally we hear about them on Photrio as they need advice or help but ask yourself how many of us are there who when they developed their first film nothing is ever heard about it because nothing went wrong To quote the Bible those people are legion.

In the short term your wait for a lab to reopen may be longer than you think. In the long term the saving you will make from home processing will be enormous, never mind the satisfaction of being in control.

If it really was that difficult then how come there is an industry selling equipment and chemicals to home processors?

Home brain surgery may be covered by your quote but home processing - never. We have nothing to fear but fear itself as someone once said in your country, I think

I will give a weekly fireside chat in these times that call for social isolation

pentaxuser

138S · Mar 23, 2020

logan2z said:
Given that it could be a while before this film is developed is it worth the risk (if any) to refrigerate it or will the latent images be unaffected in a low humidity, room temperature environment?

For long time storage cold store it -18ºC or what you can, better in a zip bag with a silicagel desiccant bag inside.

This is specially important for color film, in particular for slides, but BW film also is kept better in the freezer.

Sirius Glass said:
Freezing might cause ice crystals if you have some humidity so I would not recommend that you freeze it.

This is no problem for exposed film. It would be a problem if melted crystalls formed water drops on film when exposing, as the drops would be seen in the image because of the optical effect.

I freeze -18ºC all my exposed velvia, never a problem.

Wallendo · Mar 24, 2020

You can also consider sending to a mail order lab. According to thedarkroom.com, they are still open and processing at reduced capacity (as of 3/24/2020). Dwayne's photo seems to be up and running. The only potential issues with this would be if you have to go to the post office for stamps or supplies.

logan2z · Mar 24, 2020

Wallendo said:
You can also consider sending to a mail order lab. According to thedarkroom.com, they are still open and processing at reduced capacity (as of 3/24/2020). Dwayne's photo seems to be up and running. The only potential issues with this would be if you have to go to the post office for stamps or supplies.

I do use a mail order lab - The Icon in LA. They are currently shutdown. Their service has been good so I'll probably just wait for them to reopen.

Agulliver · Mar 24, 2020

You mentioned 120 film....I'd advise against freezing or chilling once it's out of it's original sealed packets because you have far more chance of the backing paper getting moist and interacting with the emulsion. As it is exposed film you have, it's definitely out of it's sealed packets.

Other than Ilford PanF+ every B&W film on the market can withstand normal conditions for several months if not years between shooting and developing.

Your other option is to find a mail order lab which is still operating and use them.

Kodachromeguy · Mar 24, 2020

BradS said:
fine but I definitely would NOT freeze it.

Why not? Based on what data or experience?

railwayman3 · Mar 24, 2020

logan2z said:
I figure there's a greater chance of the film being ruined by my novice attempts at home development than storing it and waiting for the lab to reopen

As Pentaxuser suggests, there's no great difficulty in home development, just read the instructions and check around here and the web for more info and videos. It might be a good time to try, and you may well gain a new interest !
I remember our days as schoolboys, in the school darkroom long before the internet, and the "rough-and-ready" way we processed film with very basic gear and chemicals (mix it yourself from the chemistry storecupboard ?)....yet we got perfectly usable results !

logan2z · Mar 24, 2020

railwayman3 said:
As Pentaxuser suggests, there's no great difficulty in home development, just read the instructions and check around here and the web for more info and videos. It might be a good time to try, and you may well gain a new interest !
I remember our days as schoolboys, in the school darkroom long before the internet, and the "rough-and-ready" way we processed film with very basic gear and chemicals (mix it yourself from the chemistry storecupboard ?)....yet we got perfectly usable results !

I've been on the fence for a long time. I may just use this as the kick in the pants I've needed.

Tumbles · Mar 25, 2020

I once cleaned out my car and found a roll of Velvia that had been lost for 2 years. I got it processed and I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I was surprised since it had been through summer heat twice.

Huub · Mar 25, 2020

Agulliver said:
Other than Ilford PanF+ every B&W film on the market can withstand normal conditions for several months if not years between shooting and developing.

And when PanF, get it processed as soon as possible as this film keeps it latent image poorly. I have lost quite a few images even postponing development only a few weeks.

laser · Mar 25, 2020

When refrigerating or freezing film, common poly bags do not provide sufficient moisture protection. Please note that Kodak and Fuji do not supply film in thin poly bags. Moisture can penetrate the bags. They use a laminated barrier wrap or thick plastic or metal film cans that are much better at stopping moisture penetration. I suggest using two layers of thick aluminum foil sealed with moisture proof tape. This can be placed in a poly bag for physical protection and easy handling.

Two-year raw stock keeping and latent image keeping is negligible on post-1998 Kodak and Fuji films.

I have examined "mountains" of data that support this recommendation.

www.makingKODAKfilm.com

Alan Edward Klein · Mar 25, 2020

Tumbles said:
I once cleaned out my car and found a roll of Velvia that had been lost for 2 years. I got it processed and I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I was surprised since it had been through summer heat twice.

I've left Velvia like that and found no difference as well. I also left Velivia in the trunk through the summer and then exposed it with no difference noticed. Of course, I bracket my 120 film +1 and -1. So maybe I didn't notice a color shift if it took place.

Alan Edward Klein · Mar 25, 2020

Wallendo said:
You can also consider sending to a mail order lab. According to thedarkroom.com, they are still open and processing at reduced capacity (as of 3/24/2020). Dwayne's photo seems to be up and running. The only potential issues with this would be if you have to go to the post office for stamps or supplies.

You can buy stamps on-line with a credit card. They will mail them to you. You also can open an on-line account with the USPS and printout prepaid mailers paid with credit cards. You checkoff the weight and service you want (ie. Priority, First Class, etc.). They then calculate the cost, charge your credit card, and then give you a form that you download and printout and tape to the box. Drop it in the mail box and your done. Just wash your hands off after touching the mailbox.

BrianShaw · Mar 25, 2020

One can also print out a pre-paid mailer label from The Darkroom.

138S · Mar 25, 2020

laser said:
stopping moisture penetration.

Modern freezers are "No Frost", air is pretty dry, it's that dry that food is dessicated in a way we have to protect it to not be dried.

I found a way to introduce moisture is closing air in a tapperware at room and refrigerating it.

I use tupperware filled with cold/dry air from inside the refrigerator, I throw the film inside with a silcagel bag.

Also I found that Kodak/Fuji film is very well sealed, while the other brands have defective sealings in 120 format, instead all 135 film coming in containers is well sealed.

Also I've found that sealed/frozen Velvia is perfect decades after, but if unsealed (even if frozen) it starts to have changes afer 1 or 2 years. Is this because oxygen ? Is some color film packaged with an active special gas ?

Alan Edward Klein · Mar 25, 2020

BrianShaw said:
One can also print out a pre-paid mailer label from The Darkroom.

That's a great idea. I forgot about it.

MattKing · Mar 25, 2020

Tumbles said:
I once cleaned out my car and found a roll of Velvia that had been lost for 2 years. I got it processed and I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I was surprised since it had been through summer heat twice.

I really shouldn't do this, but I just can't resist:
With Velvia, how could you tell if anything is wrong?
(ducks and runs back to his stash of refrigerated Ektachrome)

Storing exposed film - is refrigeration necessary?

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Storing exposed film - is refrigeration necessary?

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