Liz M. Jensen |
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Film storage and negative question
Ok, I've always heard if you're not using film to store it in the fridge (near the door)How long from taking it out to putting it in the camera does it need to be (right from fridge to camera, 1 hour, 5 hours, a day?) and should I have my negavtives cut or leave them uncut and roll them and put it back into the case the film comes in? THANKS ya'll :)
December 26, 2005
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Mark Feldstein |
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Hi Liz: All film arrives from the manufacturer in some type of air-tight storage container, whether it's a cannister for 35mm or foil package like with medium format, 120/220 or sheet film in a foil package sealed in a box. The packaging seals in an inert gas that prevents moisture from accumulating on the film while before it's used. Kodak has some recommendations although I'm inclined to agree with Bob. Whether my film is chilled in the fridge (where it's usually stored) or in the freezer, I always alllow allow at least 12 hours for either one to warm up to room temp, and without opening the packages. BUT I do separate them out from each other to speed warming. And, to my knowledge, there isn't a quick way around the warm-up process. Microwave oven is out. In a crunch, I used a hair dryer, but only for a few minutes, and wouldn't recommend that either. Too much heat can damage a film emulsion. And forget about either the toaster for packs of 4x5 sheet film or the oven. ;>) So, here's what Kodak recommends: 35mm needs about an hour from the fridge and 1 hours from the freezer. For roll films, 1/2 hour and 1 1/2 hour respectively. For longer rolls of 35mm, like bulk film, they say 3 hours from fridge, 5 hours from freezer, probably because of the metal cans. For sheet films, they recommend 1 hour for 10 sheet boxes, 2 hours for 50 sheet packs from the fridge, and 1 1/2 to 3 hours from freezer for 10 and 50 sheet boxes. These times assume a fridge that's about 34 degrees f. and a freezer at zero. As to negative storage you asked about, there are lots of storage systems available, from simple glassine sleeves to plastic archival storage sleeves / pages, that will fit in a notebook or binder. Light Impressions makes storage systems as well including boxes, negative holders, etc. I'd avoid rolling the film up and storing it in the film cannisters. Each time you roll or unroll it, you run the risk of scratching the emulsion or getting dust on unprotected negs. And, rolling them up not only makes them hard to view, but difficult to make contact prints. So, I recommend some kind of storage system and then trying to stay with it. It'll also make finding your negatives much easier. You can make an indexing system with those pages, label and number them. (slides too). Okie dokie?
Take it light.
Mark
December 26, 2005
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