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What went wrong?

My film looks foggy or has bands after I flew with it

Negatives and slides

What you're seeing

Raised overall fog and heavier grain across the whole roll, or soft-edged bands about 1 to 1.5 cm wide running through it, straight or wavy. Colour negatives show dark neutral or brown patterns; slides show light patches. It crosses frame lines.

Check this first

Check this first

Check whether the film went in hold luggage, through a CT (3D) scanner at security, or through an older cabin X-ray, and how many times.

Likely causes, most common first

  1. 01

    CT (3D) scanner at security, or film in hold luggage

    Common
    How to tell
    Fog or bands appear on every roll that travelled together, including the unexposed rebate and leader. Kodak describes CT fog as soft-edged bands of even density with more grain, running continuously through the roll or broken by the laps of film.
    Test it
    Compare with a roll from the same batch that did not fly: process both together. Fog only on the travelled roll points to scanning.
    The fix
    Nothing can remove it in printing or scanning. Next time, carry all film (including loaded cameras) in hand luggage in a clear bag and ask for a hand inspection.

    Sources Eastman Kodak Company, Baggage X-ray Scanning Effects on Film (TIB 5201, updated 8 April 2003); Kodak Alaris (Kodak Professional), CT Scanning X-Ray Technology and Film; Kodak Alaris, Storage and Care of KODAK Photographic Materials Before and After Processing (CIS E-30, Oct 2019); Ilford Photo (Harman Technology), FAQs: Advice for airport X-ray scanners: film and papers; storage; HARMAN Lab (Harman Technology), Advice on Airport X-Ray Scanners

  2. 02

    Many passes through older cabin X-ray, or very fast film

    Occasional
    How to tell
    A slight even fog and extra grain, most visible in shadows and in underexposed or pushed film. More likely on ISO 800 and faster.
    Test it
    Count how many times the film was scanned. Kodak treats more than five passes as a risk; Ilford says older cabin scanners are safe except for DELTA 3200.
    The fix
    Ask for hand inspection for fast film and for film that will be pushed.

    Sources Eastman Kodak Company, Baggage X-ray Scanning Effects on Film (TIB 5201, updated 8 April 2003); Ilford Photo (Harman Technology), FAQs: Advice for airport X-ray scanners: film and papers; storage; Aberdeen International Airport, Advice for photographers

  3. 03

    Old film, natural radiation or heat (not the airport)

    Occasional
    How to tell
    Even fog and grain across the whole roll with no bands, on expired or badly stored film. Kodak warns this can look like X-ray fog, especially on ISO 800 and faster.
    Test it
    Process a roll from the same box that never flew. If it has the same fog, the cause is age or storage.
    The fix
    Use film before its expiry date and store it cool. Shoot a test roll from old stock.

    Sources Eastman Kodak Company, Baggage X-ray Scanning Effects on Film (TIB 5201, updated 8 April 2003); Eastman Kodak Company, Storage and Handling of Unprocessed Film (TIB 5202, May 2002)

Avoiding it next time

  • Never pack unprocessed film in hold luggage.
  • Carry film in a clear bag and ask for a hand inspection at UK CT scanners.
  • Contact the airport before you fly; hand inspection is not guaranteed.
  • Processed film is not affected by X-rays.

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