Can you date old film prints from the codes on the back?
Asked 8/8/2012
7 views
2 answers
0
I’m organizing and scanning several boxes of pre-digital film photos, mostly from the 1990s. Many prints have numbers, letters, and symbols stamped on the back, but no obvious date. A few have no markings at all.
Can those back-print codes be used to determine when the photo was taken or developed? If not, are there any practical ways to estimate the date from the prints or negatives themselves? Even an approximate year would help.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
2
I found the answer after viewing another site from a link posted here concerning archiving negatives. In sum, unless the lab added the date (which some did) there is no way to determine the date from the code on back of the photo. The code is used by and for the lab (developers) and relates to paper, color correction, etc., technical information that may be of value to those who shoot film and want to know more about might find this link helpful. http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0002dz
Additionally - I noticed the tag forensics was added here and find that appropriate, as a few others have asked the same question. My interest in knowing is purely for my ease of recall so I will just sit quietly and reflect back and guess as I do have a good memory. However, for those who may need to pinpoint the time / dates - there is another link related to the post above which discusses more in detail where to look on negatives or film if forensics discovery is needed.
Hope this helps someone else as I have searched on and off for a few years with no luck. I found your site today (directed from another topic) and look forward to returning.,
Thanks Jand
Originally by user11033. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11033
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Usually, no. The numbers and symbols printed on the back of film prints were typically lab-use codes related to paper type, printing, color correction, and processing, not the date the photo was taken. Unless the lab specifically printed a date on the back, those markings generally won’t let you recover one.
If you still have negatives, they may help with sequencing rolls, but they usually won’t provide an exact shooting date either unless you already have outside context.
For approximate dating, your best options are visual clues in the image: cars, clothing styles, hairstyles, seasonal context, locations, or other identifiable background details. In some cases, more advanced photo-interpretation methods—such as analyzing shadows and sun position—can narrow things down, but that’s usually excessive for family snapshots.
So the practical answer is: lab back codes generally won’t date the print, and approximate dating usually has to come from contextual clues or your own recollection.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI14y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can codes printed on the back of old photo prints reveal the date or lab information?
How can I date old developed film rolls using lab envelopes and print markings?
How can I identify an unknown film stock from edge markings and numbers?
How reliable are embossed dates on old Kodachrome or slide mounts?
What do the serial numbers printed on the back of older photo prints mean, and can they help date the photo?