How can I safely tell whether an old Kodak Plus-X roll has already been developed?
Asked 7/13/2024
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I found an old roll of Kodak Plus-X black-and-white film in a metal canister, wrapped in paper, probably from the late 1950s or early 1960s. Before opening it in room light, I want to know whether it has already been developed, or if doing so could ruin undeveloped film.
Is there a safe way to check whether the roll has been developed? In particular, would indirect red LED light be safe?
Originally by ShutterFreak. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
ShutterFreak
1y ago
2 Answers
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Kodak Plus-X film is a “panchromatic” black-and-white negative film. The prefix “pan-” is Greek, meaning “all”. “Panchromatic” film translates as “sensitive to all colors”—no safelight to be used. Two exceptions—an infrared darkroom viewing scope can be used as well as a dim green safelight placed some distance from the film.
Such viewing systems could reveal if the film has been developed or not. No practical way to discover if undeveloped film has ever been exposed in a camera.
A darkroom worker, experienced at handling and processing black-and-white film could take the film, in its present metal canister, and develop it. Such treatment, if properly performed, is unlikely to harm film that was previously exposed and developed. This film, after development or redevelopment, will display images provided it has not been spoiled by adverse treatment.
With over 50 years of photofinisher experience, I know what I am talking about.
Originally by Alan Marcus. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Alan Marcus
1y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Kodak Plus-X is panchromatic black-and-white film, so it is sensitive to essentially all visible light. That means a red LED safelight is not safe for checking an undeveloped roll; it could fog or ruin it.
There is no practical way to tell whether undeveloped film was previously exposed in a camera, because the latent image is invisible until developed.
Safe options are:
- inspect it only in complete darkness,
- use specialized darkroom equipment such as an infrared viewing scope, or possibly a very dim green safelight at a distance,
- have an experienced darkroom worker handle it.
A common approach is a clip test: in total darkness, cut off a small piece. If the piece already shows visible image/density when later examined, the roll was developed; otherwise it can be processed. An experienced lab or darkroom worker could also simply develop the roll in darkness. Proper processing is unlikely to harm a roll that was already exposed and developed, though results may vary with very old film.
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