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gopher
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/14/2008 1:52:46 AM
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I know of the benefits of storing film in either the fridge or freezer, but is there any benefit in doing the same for papers? Primary at the moment will be Ilford Multigrade RC, but I want to try a range of graded papers and also fibre based papers.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Craig Griffiths
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leopard
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/13/2008 1:31:03 PM
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Hello and welcome!
I can see how you can benefit from it if it was an air tight package, like 120 film has a wrapper, 35mm film has the canister, most sheet film are in air tight envelopes. Paper, however, has an envelope that is not air tight. If you stored it in a ZipLoc bag that sealed almost completely, to avoid condensation within, I'm sure you could benefit same as you would with paper.
I never keep paper around long enough to worry about it. I have Kodak Velox paper that expired in 1947 that is a little bit foggy with certain developers but works great in Defender 58D. Me knowingly it's been stored in room temperature since purchase.
It also seems to be the common opinion that variable contrast papers don't keep as well as graded ones.
Not an all encompassing reply, I hope someone with more solid expertise can chime in.
- Thomas
Photography is my insanity asylum, where I can focus on making one single thing perfect, while the rest of the world fades into the periphery.
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gopher
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/2/2008 12:32:21 PM
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| I'd echo Thomas' reply. It really all depends on your usage and probably more critically the availability of supply. In the U.K. buying a box/packet at a time isn't difficult so it can be as little as 25 sheets which even with low film usage isn't going to last anywhere near long enough to spoil. I have certainly had paper stored at room temp in the darkroom about a couple of years with no ill effects that I can detect. More important than storage is ensuring that bags aren't left open for any longer than necessary even in constant safelight conditions. I'd use a papersafe and transfer a batch needed for that session into the safe and then make sure that the paper is resealed in the black bag and the box lid put back on before proceeding. A moment's carelessness here has probably ruined more paper in more darkrooms than any effect created by normal shelf life storage. I've been there myself! pentaxuser
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leopard
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/8/2008 1:58:00 PM
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| Hi Craig, I have a similar routine to pentaxuser where i only take out a bit at a time and put it into a paper safe. The rest stays in the black bag in the box. I usually don't have paper around for more than 6 months to a year, and i keep it at room temperature. One time I noticed about a half grade difference in contrast from one box to another (different emulsion batch though), so I don't know if that was just batch to batch or actual aging because the older box was open for at least 6 months. It'd be interesting to hear what others do. My only experience is with VC fiber and RC papers.
Matt"To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event." - Henri Cartier-Bresson
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