Where is the best place to store film?
“Film in the Fridge”
Most photographers already know this tip, but keeping and storing your photographic film at refrigerator temperatures (13°C /50°F or lower) keeps it fresh and significantly increases the lifespan of the film.
Storing your analog camera in a designated camera case is the best option for short- or long-term storage. A hard case provides the most protection because it protects your camera from bumps or drops that may happen if you move it around.
In general, manufacturers recommend storing your emulsion at 8°C /46°F or lower. The lower temperature will slow down film degradation, and the dry atmosphere in the fridge will protect film from humidity.
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.
But you definitely DO want to store your sleeves in some sort of box, storage binder made specifically for film, or other sturdy enclosure to prevent scratching, bending, and similar damage. Lastly, just like film cameras and your rolls of film, make sure your negatives are stored in a cool, dry location.
Throw it in the fridge! Yep, that's right – keeping film cool has been known to preserve film's freshness and longevity. If you're not shooting your rolls right away, pop it in the fridge until it's time to use them.
- Buy as much film as you can carry.
- Throw away the cardboard packaging.
- Keep the film in those iconic plastic canisters. ...
- Use a transparent zip-lock bag; don't bother with buying a lead-lined pouch.
For short term storage, keeping your film in a cool, dry place as recommended will do fine. In hot, tropical climates, you should only store your film for 2-3 months in the open. Places like your linen cupboard, wardrobe and bathroom are good homes for your film.
It is not necessary to store films in the fridge, as long as where you're storing them is of a cool enough temperature. However some people prefer to, and feel it keeps their films fresher for longer.
With that said, the old film you found in an attic will be wildly unpredictable if subjected to hot temperatures. Heat is film's worst enemy and can cause increased grain, color shifts, and even brittleness.
Is it bad to leave film in heat?
As suspected, heat does have an effect, and below is an example of a test we did. Film can be in the heat without being ruined, but long periods of exposure will greatly affect it. As you can see below, the heat muted the colors, brought the contrast down, and had a significant impact on overall quality.
Keep your film dry and out of direct sunlight: Film is a very powerful medium, but it's also very easy to ruin it. Store rolls of film you aren't currently using it a dark environment where they'll be safe and dry.
The film camera should always be stored in room temperature as much as possible. If stored in high heat or direct sunlight, the heat can slowly melt lubrication greases inside the camera and potentially damage it. Prolonged heat can also cause some camera parts to expand.
Like prints, negatives and transparencies should be stored in a cool, dry location. Fortunately, many negatives now return from the photo lab stored in plastic pocket pages that appear to be safe for the films (they frequently are polyethylene).
Keep all packages away from heat sources; store in a cool, dry place at a temperature between 50° and 75°F (10° to 24°C). Keep opened packages of film at a relative humidity between 30° and 50 percent.