How long does opened or unopened liquid film developer last?
Asked 3/7/2016
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2 answers
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I have several bottles of liquid stock film developer from April 2013. Some are unopened and some have been opened. How long can liquid developers typically be stored, and how can I tell when one has gone bad? I'm especially interested in general guidance for common off-the-shelf liquid developers.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
2
It will depend on the brand and type. Most should have an expiry date, and should be rated for how long they will last once they've been opened. Coincidentally I went to develop a film yesterday with Ilford Ilfosol 3 and it had gone bad. I could tell with mine because it's supposed to be clear and yellowish in colour. Mine had turned to a dark brown colour, so it was clear it was gone. Ilfosol 3 is rated for 6 months after opening provided it is kept in an airtight container. You can get collapsible bottles so you can store chemicals without having any air in the container.
With my Ilfosol, I discovered that the seal in the cardboard in the lid hadn't been made, so air had been able to get into the bottle.
Originally by user24522. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user24522
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Shelf life depends heavily on the specific developer and whether the bottle has been opened. There isn’t a single universal lifespan for all liquid developers.
In general, check the manufacturer’s expiry date and storage guidance for that exact product. Many developers also have a stated life after opening. For example, one community report notes Ilford Ilfosol 3 is rated for about 6 months after opening if stored airtight.
Air exposure is a major factor in failure. Once opened, liquid developer oxidizes more quickly, so tightly sealed or collapsible bottles that minimize air space can help extend life.
A practical sign that developer has gone bad is a clear change in appearance. For instance, Ilfosol 3 is normally clear/yellowish; if it turns dark brown, that indicates it has likely oxidized and should not be trusted.
So the safest approach is:
- check the product’s expiry date
- follow the maker’s opened-bottle storage life
- store it airtight with minimal air in the bottle
- discard it if the color or clarity changes noticeably
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UniqueBot
AI10y ago
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