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Thread: Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

  1. #1
    Goldman
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    Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

    Can you find an expiry date on Ilford Black and White paper? How do you know if the Ilford paper is still good without testing it?

    Thanks
    Bill

  2. #2

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    May 2007
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    Re: Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

    A lot depends on storage conditions. Cool is good, dry is good. Paper kept under good conditions lasts for years. However fogging, loss of sensitivity and loss of contrast are all possible.

  3. #3

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    Re: Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

    Test it! L

  4. #4

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    Re: Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

    As a rule of thumb: 3 years in room temperature 7-8 years in a refrigerator. Paper used to hold up longer. I have Ilford Multigrade from the year 1997 in my frigde that is still OK. Some add antifoggant to the paper developer when older paper shows fog.

  5. #5

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    Re: Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

    You can find the year it was made using this site: http://www.palomarkovic.net/mobile/BatchNumberDecoder/

  6. #6
    Corran's Avatar
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    Re: Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

    Quote Originally Posted by Chuck Pere View Post
    You can find the year it was made using this site: http://www.palomarkovic.net/mobile/BatchNumberDecoder/
    Cool, always wondered if there was such a way to figure out the date. I'll have to look some of my paper up.

    I have used a lot of old paper. When I first started experimenting with darkroom work 5+ years ago I found someone selling about 1000 sheets of 8x10 Ilford FB and I still have some of that - which prints fine despite being probably 10+ years old. However once I did buy some Ilford warm-tone that was fogged horrendously, and it didn't look that old.
    Bryan | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | Portfolio
    All comments and thoughtful critique welcome

  7. #7
    adelorenzo's Avatar
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    Re: Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

    I've been given many boxes of Ilford paper of all sizes and varieties, most of it 10-15 years old. This is from a few different sources and AFAIK none of it stored with particular care. I've not had a problem yet.

  8. #8

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    Re: Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

    With MG paper, the contrast layer will fade first, giving only flat images no matter what filter you use...

    With very old (10+ year) fiber paper, the baryta base will sometimes micro crack, where if the paper is bent or using tongs will cause a soak-through of usually blue color and tong, dent marks, etc... Might curl weirdly...

    You will know when it happens...

    Steve K

  9. #9

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    Oct 2015
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    Re: Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

    I have stored both fixed and mutigrade papers in the freezer for 40+ years and have never noticed any issues with paper that was 10+ years old. Once it's out of the freezer, I tend to use a box fairly fast. Therefore, I don't have any idea how long silver paper lasts at room temp.

  10. #10

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    Tecumseh, Michigan
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    Re: Expiration time for Ilford photo paper

    So you're saying a dull flat result with paper from 2001 should be expected?

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