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Film storage


BlackDE

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I store all my film in the freezer. It's just important to let it defrost properly before the canister is opened.

 

All film degenerates over time, due to the organic compounds used in the emulsion. Freezing slows this down, just as it does with your fish fingers and frozen chips.

 

Colour film degrades more quickly than black and white, so benefits more for being stored this way, but will eventually start to show colour casts.

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What´s your estimate on how long colour/b&w film stays relatively fresh in a freezer after it´s expiration?

 

Depends on the emulsion and maker,

 

Kodak lasts the longest in my experience, then Ilford then Fuji.

I have several boxes of Type 55 from 1999 that are still 100 percent fine (the odd sheet is a dude but the bulk are 100%).

I am shooting some Plus-x that expired the same year my daughter was born, some 18 years ago!! When I pull form the freezer and shoot right away, it is close to perfect, if I let it sit once thawed out, it gets a slight base fog quickly, not bad for film that is 18 years out of date!

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If you have pro colour film then you should ensure that you buy rolls of the same batch no. and keep it in the fridge if you intend using it within it's expiry date, to maintain colour consistency.

 

Other types of film don't require special treatment as long as you are going to use it by the expiry date, but it does no harm to keep it in the fridge.

 

If you intend to store film to use beyond it's intended expiry date then wrap it and freeze it. B&W film will last many years. I have C41 colour film in the freezer that's about 6 years out of date and still good. If colours do start to shift they can be corrected in PP (unless you're using slides for projection of course).

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