moisture film in the fridge?

[Landberg]

Hi!
I have som film in the fridge and its been there for about 6 months. When i took it out it was kind of moisture/wet. Is this bad for the film? It dyed up quick but still?

 

[daveleo]

If the moisture is simple condensation that occured when the cold film cannister hit the warm room air, the moisture is just on the surface of the cannister.
Let it sit in the room until the whole roll gets to room temperature and then no moisture will condense on the film as it gets pulled out of the cannister.
I have heard people say they just shot it as-is with no problems, but they were casual shooters.

EDIT: I assumed it is roll film. Cannot comment on sheets or plates or whatever.

 

[Landberg]

Yeah it's roll film! Thank you, so i should not be to worried?

 

[Rob-F]

If the moisture is on the film, it is time to worry. If only on the canister, not to worry. Hint: always let the canister warm to room temperature before opening it, or moisture will condense on the film.

 

[Landberg]

I sacrificed a movie. It did not look like the film itself was moist.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Hi, as well. 🙂
Is anything else covered with moisture in the fridge?
Sometimes I see it happens. If film spend six months in it...
I don't think it is big deal.
If you take cold "film" out and it gets wet, it is matter of environment and it is normal.
It happens in my basemen with bulk film. No issues, at all.
Sleep tight,
Ko.

 

[Dwig]

The original factory internal packaging will be air tight and if the moisture is condensing on this then there is no problem so long as you don't open the canister until the film has warmed to room temp.

35mm cassettes are not air tight and moisture can condense inside of the cassette if the film is still cold when the outer packaging is opened. Tightly wound roll film is less permeable, but it still can be damaged if its foil package, or whatever, is opened too soon.

 

[oscroft]

When I put films in the fridge, they're always in a sealed container of some sort. The wrapper on a roll film, or the plastic pot for 35mm as the metal cassette isn't airtight. When I take them out, the outer wrapping gets condensation on it, but I don't open it until the whole thing has warmed up.

Having said that, in the past I've put 35mm cassettes in the fridge without their plastic pots and the metal has had condensation on it when taken out, but they were fine - I guess very little moist air actually gets in through the light trap before the thing has warmed up.

 

[daveleo]

Allow me a very picky note here.😀
Although the light seal is somewhat but not literally air tight (it would not support a large pressure difference),
there is no impetus for room air to flow *into* the cold film canister. In fact, as the canister internals warm up,
what air is inside expands and probably some even leaks *out* (not in).

Picky picky I know, but what can you expect from a retired engineer ?😀

 

[traveler_101]

One additional question - somewhat aside the OP's query. I had thought, or had to come the conclusion somehow, that film should be placed in sealed plastic bags and put in the deep freeze compartment rather than the refrigerator. Is this not preferable . . . ?

 

[oscroft]

One additional question - somewhat aside the OP's query. I had thought, or had to come the conclusion somehow, that film should be placed in sealed plastic bags and put in the deep freeze compartment rather than the refrigerator. Is this not preferable . . . ?

Long-term stock in the freezer, but a smaller stock in the fridge for quicker use, and some at room temperature for immediate use - that's the way I do it.

 

[Gregoyle]

I use freezer zip-lock bags around the film and wait until it warms up to remove it from the bag. The gallon bags fit a brick of 35mm (not sure what sizes they come in outside the US).

-Greg