Delayed Processing

Does anyone know how long TMAX 100 can sit around exposed but unprocessed before image quality starts to degrade? Is one month a safe amount of time?

Image degrading between exposure and processing is called “latent image shifting”. Fists let me assure you that 1 month or even 4 months is inconsequential. I once managed a department that made test film . These are pre-exposed film to be developed by photofinishers, used to test the activity of their developing systems. We exposed and packaged, air tight and then aged the film for 24 hours and then froze the film. Test strips are shipped to customers in dry ice.. You can package and freeze for later processing.If doing general imaging, don’t worry about a few months delay. If you freeze exposed film, allow it to reach room temperature before opening. This avoids water spots due to condensation that can form when cold film is subjected to normal room humidity.

It would, of course, depend upon storage conditions. And what you define as degradation. Theoretically, a latent image begins to degrade as soon as it is taken. Practically, it depends upon the user. Store the film in a cool dry place or better yet in a baggie in the refrigerator or freezer to minimize any degradation.

 

I have never had any problems storing exposed black and white film at room temperature (an air conditioned room in the summer) for a few weeks or a month. Degradation might be more a problem with color film, but even color film has never caused me a problem.

As a reference point, I think it's helpful to consider the edge markings, which are exposed as part of the manufacturing process.

 

I've developed films-including TMX-100-that were 20+ years past their expiration date-and with perfectly legible and clear edge markings.

 

I've had exposed film kick around for a year or two, sometimes longer, because I forgot about processing it or for whatever reason. Back in the days of film being the snapshot staple for everyone, it wasn't uncommon for a single roll to spend a couple of years loaded in a camera-I have some of those in my family boxes of negatives(sometimes evident by seeing photos from 2-3 different Christmases on or other holidays on the same roll) and there's no noticeable difference between the start and finish of the roll.

 

I can think of one notable exception-the latent image keeping of Ilford Pan F is notoriously poor. Not too long ago, I shot a roll that was in-date but about to expire. I developed it within a day of exposing and the images were fine, but the edge markings were relatively faint. I once inadvertently let an exposed roll sit for probably 3 years, and even though it was shot under good conditions(daylight) in a camera known to give good, consistent exposure(Canon T90) the negatives were quite thin.

I had a shot roll in my freezer for 7 years. I just forgot it was there. Moving made me go through the freezer :)

 

Although I didn't take a densitometer to it, the film looked perfect when developed normally.

we're lucky to have members like Alan Marcus :) Thanks!

 

I have had exposed Kodachrome and other slide film shift significantly after more than 10 years (don't ask) sitting in the back of a cabinet.... But shorter term doesn't seem to make much difference. Often, it is possible to (partially) restore missing color in post processing,

I had a roll of Tri-X 30 years after exposure.

 

No noticeable problems with latent image, but some fogging, that comes out as

white spots in black areas (of the print).

 

That was pictures from my last weeks in college, in a camera I borrowed from

my father. (Canon VI). I had slide film in my Nikon FM, and needed some black

and white pictures. The last roll was in the camera, in my fathers closet, for

those 30 years.

 

In theory the latent image degrades from the deepest shadows upwards over time. The film starts to effectively lose speed the longer it's stored before processing, and I've actually noticed this with films that have been 'forgotten' and later re-discovered in an unused camera or suchlike.

 

A month I wouldn't worry about, but several months and longer, especially in warm storage? I wouldn't advise that if you want to keep good shadow detail.