Pack Your Film Right: Airport X-ray Screening and Storage Temperature

How do airport X-rays affect film?

Kodak says X-rays can fog undeveloped film. Kodak Alaris recommends assuming that any major airport uses CT scanners, and it strongly advises against sending undeveloped film through a CT scanner.

Developed film, on the other hand, is not affected by X-rays, according to Kodak. Walk-through metal detectors and handheld metal detectors are not X-ray devices, so they do not affect film, and millimeter-wave body scanners also use radio waves rather than ionizing radiation.

What should you do at the security checkpoint?

Combining the Kodak and TSA guidance, the steps look like this.

1. Do not put undeveloped film or a camera loaded with film in checked baggage. Carry it yourself.
2. Put the film in a clear zip bag.
3. At the checkpoint, take it out of your bag and ask for a hand inspection.
4. In case the request is refused or only a CT scanner is available, also think about buying and developing film at your destination.

The TSA recommends putting undeveloped film, and cameras that hold it, in your carry-on or bringing them to the checkpoint and asking for a hand inspection. The page also says the final decision rests with the TSA officer, and it was last updated on May 4, 2017. Kodak adds that a hand inspection is not guaranteed at every airport, so it suggests contacting the airport before you leave.

I could not confirm the film screening rules of Korean airports or airlines for this article. Ask your departure airport and airline first.

At what temperature should you store film?

The date checked is 2026-10-13. The values in the table come from Kodak's storage material (CIS-2017-1, October 2019) and the Gold 200 technical data sheet (E-7022). The guidance also says to avoid any hot place, and the usual examples are a car parked in the sun or an attic in summer.

When can you open refrigerated film?

Not right away. If you open the package as soon as you take cold film out, water droplets can form on the surface, so Kodak says to wait until it reaches room temperature. This is how long one roll of 135 (35mm) film takes.

These values assume the packages are not stacked and air can circulate around them. Kodak material says to take large packages or long rolls out a day ahead, but for a regular roll of 35mm film, use the times above.

If you check just one thing before you travel, what should it be?

First check whether the film you plan to use is still undeveloped. If it is, carry it yourself as described above, and if it has already been developed, you do not need to worry about X-rays. Keeping the film and camera together in a small pouch lets you take everything out at once at the checkpoint.