Storage and Care of Kodak photographic materials, conservation des films et papiers

Storage and Care of

KODAK Photographic Materials

Before and After Processing

October 2019 • CIS-2017-1

CURRENT INFORMATION SUMMARY

You can store unexposed black-and-white films for

short periods of time at temperatures up to 24°C (75°F).

For storage over long periods of time, maintain the

following storage temperatures for black-and-white film

whenever possible:

The photographic materials that you use to record images

deserve the same kind of care and attention as other

valuable objects. Before you expose film or paper, you must

store and handle it properly so that it can provide the finest

possible results. After exposure, proper care in processing

and in storing or displaying the negative, slide,

months

transparency, or print helps to preserve the long-term

usefulness of the image.

For storage periods up to

2 months 6 months

Store black-and-white films at

a temperature below

24°C

(75°F)

16°C

(60°F)

10°C

(50°F)

STORAGE AND HANDLING OF

UNPROCESSED PHOTOGRAPHIC

MATERIALS

Unprocessed photographic films and papers are

perishable products that can be damaged by high

temperatures and high relative humidities. Some

photographic characteristics—speed, contrast, color

balance, and fog level—change gradually after

Warm up after refrigeration. Topreventcondensationon

the surfaces of film taken from a refrigerator or freezer,

allow the package to warm up to room temperature before

breaking the seal or opening the container. Warm-up times

vary with the amount of material, the type of package, and

the storage temperature. Typical warm-up times are given

in the table below.

manufacture. Adverse storage conditions accelerate these

changes. Color materials are more seriously affected than

black-and-white materials because adverse conditions

usually affect the emulsion layers to different degrees.

Kodak Alaris packages films and papers in plastic and

metal cans, foil envelopes, or polyethylene bags to protect

them from contaminants and from changes in relative

humidity. Do not open the original package until you are

ready to use the product. Specific storage instructions for

each product are printed on the package, but here are a few

general principles to keep in mind:

Warm-Up Time (Hours) to Reach

Room Temperature of 21°C (70°F)

Size

From a Storage Temperature of

-18°C

(0°F)

2°C

(35°F)

13°C

(55°F)

120 roll

0.75

1.25

0.5

135 magazine

35 mm long roll

10-sheet box

50-sheet box

1.5

Use film promptly. For best results, always use film

Note: Times are based on separating packages to allow

for good air circulation. Remove large packages and

rolls of film from refrigeration the day before you plan

to use them.

before the expiration date printed on the package.

Keep the temperature low. You can store KODAK

Consumer Films and Single Use Cameras at temperatures

up to 70/ 21°. However, you must keep all films away from

places where they are subject to excessive heat, such as a

car parked in the sun, or an attic during the summer. The

glove compartment, trunk, and back window of a car in the

sun become very hot on a warm day. If you carry film in a

car in warm weather, keep it in an insulated bag or cooler.

We recommend that you store KODAK PROFESSIONAL

color films in their original sealed packaging under

refrigeration at 13°C (55°F) or lower to maintain consistent

performance.

Keep the relative humidity low. Although the packaging

helps to protect the materials from moisture, exposure to a

relative humidity (RH) of 60 percent or higher for long

periods damages cardboard packages, labels, adhesives,

and metal. It also promotes the growth of bacteria, molds,

and fungi. Some species of fungi can destroy emulsions by

ingesting the gelatin.

Usually the relative humidity in refrigerators and

freezers is high, so inspect the packaging periodically for

signs of deterioration and fungus growth. Use a room

dehumidifier to keep the humidity low—ideally below

50 percent RH.

Store KODAK Color Papers and Display Materials

between 40 and 75°F (4 and 24°C) in the original sealed

package. High temperatures or high humidity may produce

unwanted print quality changes.

Store opened packages carefully. After you have

opened the original sealed packaging, the material is no

longer protected from the damaging effects of high relative

humidity and atmospheric contaminants such as chemical

fumes.¹For this reason, it is important to use the material

promptly.

Therefore, you do not need to change your printing

procedures to compensate for latent-image shifts under

normal temperature and handling conditions. For

consistent results, keep the time between exposure and

processing the same for each type of paper or display

material.

Protect film from x-rays. X-rays can fog unprocessed

film. When you travel by commercial airline, your checked

luggage is commonly subjected to x-ray examination by a

CT (Computed Tomography) scanner. Many airport

security departments are now investing in additional CT

scanners for carry-on bags, with a goal of eventually having

the machines at every security checkpoint. To avoid any

danger of fogging unprocessed film, always hand-carry

your film - including loaded cameras - and always request

a visual inspection at the airport security check point.

PROCESSING

The quality of processing is a very important factor in

image stability. Improper processing can result in

deterioration of the image.

Follow proper procedures. Commercial processing

laboratories are aware of the important influence that

processing has on the photographic quality and long-term

keeping properties of prints, negatives, slides, and

transparencies. If you do your own processing, remember

that failing to follow the manufacturer's processing

recommendations can impair image stability. Incorrect

processing procedures such as faulty agitation, insufficient

or excessive fixing, and inadequate or excessive washing,

can result in defects after long-term storage that were not

apparent shortly after processing. Other guidelines include

avoiding contamination of solutions, using proper

replenishment, minimizing oxidation of developers,

cleaning the tanks regularly to avoid bacterial growth, and

using a stop bath when recommended.

Note:

• Processed film is not affected by x-rays.

• The traditional door frame walk-through and

hand-held metal detectors used to check passengers

are not x-ray devices and do not affect film.

• Millimeter wave body scanners use radio waves, and

produce no ionizing radiation.

Sometimes mailed packages are also x-rayed; if you

include unprocessed film in a package, label the package

“Undeveloped Photographic Film. Please Do Not X-Ray.”

Film mailed in clearly marked processing mailers sold by

photofinishers is usually not subjected to x-ray inspection.

STORAGE AND HANDLING OF PROCESSED

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS

Negatives

Of all photographic sensitized products, processed

negatives are usually given the least attention when it

comes to storage. You don’t normally display or look at

them; often you print them and forget about them. Even

when stored in the dark, however, color negative images do

change. Negatives that you intend to reprint require the

same care and attention as other photographic images.

Protect the latent image. Once you have exposed your

film, paper, or display material, it is important to minimize

changes in the latent (unprocessed) image. For consistent

results, process the film, paper, or display material

promptly after exposure.

This is particularly important with professional color

films, because they are optimized for processing soon after

exposure. Storage at a low temperature after exposure will

retard latent-image changes. You can keep exposed,

unprocessed film in a refrigerator for a few days when

necessary. Put the film in a sealed container, and allow the

unopened container to reach room temperature before

removing the film for processing. If you have professional

films processed at a distant processing laboratory, ship

them by priority mail or air express promptly after

exposure. Do not deposit film in a metal mailbox where it

may be subjected to high temperatures.

Keep negatives clean. Avoid a buildup of fingerprints,

dirt, and dust; these contaminants often contain chemicals

or fungus spores that can harm the image. If you suspect

that your negatives are dirty, clean them carefully before

you store them.

If you use envelopes or plastic sleeves to protect the

negatives, be sure that the material has no potential for

harming them. The glossy surface of some plastic sleeves

may cause ferrotyping (glazing) of a negative, which leads

to density variations in a print made from it. Paper

envelopes that meet the standards for photographic

materials are better for long-term storage of negatives.

For best results, process paper or display material on the

same day you expose it. You should not notice shifts in the

latent image with keeping times from 1 minute to 24 hours.

1.Chemical fumes that can harm photographic products may come from

industrial emissions, motor exhausts, paints, solvents, cleaners, mothballs,

chipboard, glues, mildew and fungus preventives, foam-injected insulation,

fabric treatments such as permanent press and stain inhibitors, and

insecticides. These may contain formaldehyde or aldehyde derivatives,

sulfides, or other agents that can harm either unprocessed or processed

photographic materials.

Storage and Care of KODAK Photographic Materials • CIS-2017-1

Control the temperature and humidity. Negatives

intended for long-term storage require special care, but

you can store negatives for short-term use under normal

room conditions. In climates where the relative humidity

regularly approaches 60 percent, use a dehumidifier or

other means of reducing the humidity in the storage area.

Keep the temperature low for long-term storage. High

temperature and high relative humidity can affect

processed negatives. A temperature between 2°C (35°F)

and 13°C (55°F) and a relative humidity between 30 and

35 percent are excellent conditions for long-term storage

of negatives.

The storage temperature for black-and-white negatives

is not as critical as for color negatives, but you should

control the relative humidity. An RH below 25 percent can

lead to brittleness; an RH above 60 percent encourages

mold and fungus growth.

Store prints in albums for convenient access. A less

elaborate way to keep prints, and one that combines ready

access with good long-term storage conditions, is in a

photo album. To get the best results from storage in an

album, keep it in a place where the temperature and

humidity aren’t excessive.

Caution

Fumes from mothballs, mildew inhibitors, wood

preservatives, paints, varnishes, and wood glues can

contaminate drawers and harm photographic materials.

Therefore, open bookshelves may be a better place to

store albums and prints.

Because the prints are in direct contact with the pages of

a photo album, make sure that the materials in the album

are suitable for long-term storage of photographs. Check

these items—cover, pages, plastic sleeves, mounting

corners or hinges, and ink used for identification.

Protect negatives from light. Light affects photographic

dyes; for short-term storage, put negatives in a dark

place—metal drawers or file boxes, for example. Metal is

better than wood or plastic because wood and plastic may

contain preservatives or volatile substances that can affect

the negatives.

Mounting and displaying prints. Mounting board is the

most commonly used material for mounting photographs.

Most mounting boards designed for photographic use are

acid-free and pH-buffered. (Use materials that are not

acid-free and pH-buffered only for short-term mounting.)

One method of long-term mounting involves attaching the

print to conservation board with acid-free paper hinges or

corner pockets. These materials are often used with a

window mat placed over the photograph. Interleave

mounted prints with acid-free paper when you store them.

Prints

Most guidelines for storing other photographic products

also apply to prints. The dyes and emulsion layers in color

papers make storage of color prints more critical than that

of black-and-white prints.

Select the print material that best suits your needs.

Many factors—light, heat, humidity, and atmospheric

contaminants—can affect the life of a print. Even under the

best conditions, a print on continuous display is likely to

change in time. When prints are intended for display, store

the original negatives or slides properly so that you can

make new prints if the display prints begin to fade.

Because KODAK PROFESSIONAL ENDURA and

KODAK ROYAL and EDGE Papers have excellent dye

stability, you can expect color prints made on these papers

to keep for a long time—many decades for prints on

display under typical home lighting, for example.

Provide a cool, dry, uncontaminated storage place. If

you have prints that you don’t expect to display or that you

want to store for a long time before you display them, you

may want to leave them unmounted.

Avoid storing prints in the original cardboard box or

package. Use archivally safe boxes or envelopes.

The best storage conditions for color prints are the same

as those for most other photographic products. Store

prints in the dark at 24°C (75°F) or lower and at 30- to

50-percent relative humidity. If you store several prints in

one package, interleave them with acid-free paper.

Storage and Care of KODAK Photographic Materials • CIS-2017-1