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How to Use Expired Film

Expired film is commonly thrown out with the trash. Many people believe expiration dates on film mean that pictures will not come out clear or paper will be blank. This is simply not true. Expired film is excellent for picture experimentation, helping create different hue saturation and grade appearances. Expired film is not used for important, professional-quality photographs, but it can help you devise a photography style all your own, while giving you an understanding of how film processing works.

Instructions

- 1
  Freeze your expired film until you are ready to use it. This prevents the film from degrading and becoming unusable. Defrost your film at room temperature for one to two hours before loading it into your camera. Expired film can be thawed and refrozen, if needed.
- 2
  Purchase or use expired film that is used for slower camera speeds. These films tend to have a higher preservation rate than quicker camera speed films. For example, a 35mm film will last longer than a 220mm film.
- 3
  Avoid harsh lighting when shooting your pictures. This will only enhance any problems your film already has. You may end up with unsightly flares or distortions. Experiment with different lighting sources to find your ideal setting.
- 4
  Shoot expired film immediately after removing it from its packaging. The risk of exposing the unused film is greater in expired products. This could cause blank prints once the film is processed.

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