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JudyM

(29,294 posts)
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 12:00 AM Feb 2019

Traveling by air with developed color slides

Can the airport scanners damage developed 35mm color slides at all? I have some precious family slides that I’d like to take with me on a trip tomorrow morning. If anyone’s still here to answer?

I couldn’t find the answer online, only posts about undeveloped film being damaged by checked baggage scanners.

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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CaliforniaPeggy

(149,838 posts)
1. It apparently depends on whether or not the film has been developed.
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 12:07 AM
Feb 2019

I found this link. Maybe it will help you.

https://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/tib/tib5201.shtml

It looks to me that your film will be safe as long as it's been developed. But read the link for more info.

Best of luck!

JudyM

(29,294 posts)
3. Thanks Peggy, that was one of the sources I looked at, but it doesn't expressly say
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 12:11 AM
Feb 2019

that developed slide film would be okay. Maybe it’s implicit but that still seems like a risk.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,838 posts)
4. They do talk about unprocessed film, which is undeveloped film and is not safe.
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 12:14 AM
Feb 2019

That's about as close as you can get to a real answer, I think.

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
2. Don't rely on me if this is critical but my understanding is that only undeveloped film can be
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 12:08 AM
Feb 2019

damaged by scanners, but I'm going on very old recollection.

Please let us all know what you figure out!

SeattleVet

(5,485 posts)
5. Processed slides are fine.
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 04:00 AM
Feb 2019

Most undeveloped film is also fine, going through modern American equipment. Some ultra-high ISO films *may* have some fogging problems if they are sent through multiple times (lots of legs of a trip, or taking the same film on multiple trips before processing, or through scanners at foreign airports (that may not be using the very low dosage that US airports use).

Here is an excellent article on the care, handling, and preservation of color slides:

http://www.wilhelm-research.com/pdf/HW_Book_18_of_20_HiRes_v1c.pdf

Major Nikon

(36,828 posts)
7. The higher the ISO is, the more susceptible it is to damage
Sun Feb 24, 2019, 05:15 PM
Feb 2019

I haven’t traveled with film in a very long time. What I used to do is request a visual inspection at the checkpoint to avoid scanning. I assume they will still allow this.

If the film has been processed, it isn’t subject to damage from X-ray

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