How long can I postpone development?

[Marco Annaratone]

You guys have been GREAT!!!! Thankyouthankyouthankyou.

Cheers

[Ben Syverson]

I wouldn't recommend it for C41... I developed some 35mm rolls of C41 that had been exposed 6-8 years prior, and they came out exceptionally grainy. Even ISO 100 films looked like ISO 1600.

Edit: a few months is not going to do anything, so don't worry too much. My main point was that color materials seem to be a little more sensitive to extremely long delays.

[ki6mf]

A suggestion for storage: Place the negative(s) in an individual cardboard film mailer inside a 3 MM black poly envelope. I attach individual film exposure notes to each mailer with a rubber band. Mailers are available from Freestyle Photo in California in various sizes. A 5X7 with mailer and bag was around $.60 each last time I purchased them. They can be found under Darkroom Supply/Dark Room Accessories/Misc. Sizes range from 5X7 to ULF. I do not know where these can be purchased outside of the USA.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/5857-E...x7?cat_id=1603

[sergiob]

Maybe R.Lambrecht might chime in on this one. In their book, WBM 2nd ed., they state paper does suffer from speed loss over a period of minutes! I wonder, if this is so, why can film keep a latent image undegraded for so long time. Interesting question. By the way, a magnificent book.

[Randy]

I processed some 4X5 8 years after exposed. What fun finding a forgotten family portrait.
A couple years ago I processed another 4X5 neg that had sat in a holder since being exposed in 1961. The story is here.

[cyrus]

jeez - i've found film in old cameras bought at flea markets and developed it. Photos of people wearing 1960s clothes so I'm guessing 40-50 years old!

[Jim Graves]

I processed some 4X5 8 years after exposed. What fun finding a forgotten family portrait.
A couple years ago I processed another 4X5 neg that had sat in a holder since being exposed in 1961. The story is here.

AMAZING story Randy ... thanks for sharing!!!!

[Richard M. Coda]

I have developed film after almost 20 years...
http://rcodaphotography.blogspot.com...m-my-past.html

[Curt]

You can only put it off so long and then you'll have to face the music!!!

Good luck,
Curt