Freezing Color Film

Ten301 · Mar 15, 2021

I realize this is likely a bit like splitting hairs, but I currently store my film in the freezer at 0F. However, my freezer can be set to go to as low as -20F. I know freezing doesn’t stop background radiation damage, but would there be any practical advantage as far as longevity at storing the film at a lower temperature?

Sirius Glass · Mar 15, 2021

It does not make a difference. 0 degrees F is cold enough. I have done it for decades.

halfaman · Mar 16, 2021

I store my film at 43º F, or 6º C, in a low humidity fridge (nofrost). Well within Kodak recommendations for long-term storage.

Lachlan Young · Mar 16, 2021

halfaman said:
in a low humidity fridge

This is far, far more important than people realise - and ignorance of it can potentially do a lot of damage, especially to 120 films.

AgX · Mar 16, 2021

Sirius Glass said:
It does not make a difference. 0 degrees F is cold enough. I have done it for decades.

The lower the temperature, the lower the speed of chemical reaction (mass modified/time).

This concept was applied at the photochemical industry, where for long term storage temperatures of about -25°C were chosen at higher expense over 0°C.

Sirius Glass · Mar 16, 2021

AgX said:
The lower the temperature, the lower the speed of chemical reaction (mass modified/time).

This concept was applied at the photochemical industry, where for long term storage temperatures of about -25°C were chosen at higher expense over 0°C.

OK I can live with that. Thank you.

MattKing · Mar 16, 2021

Here is what Kodak Alaris says about storage: https://imaging.kodakalaris.com/sites/uat/files/wysiwyg/pro/CIS_E30.pdf

Alan9940 · Mar 16, 2021

I've stored B&W film, color film, and B&W printing paper in 0F freezers for decades without issue; other than normal increase in base fog due to age of the film.

Ten301 · Mar 16, 2021

Thank you all for your input. I was asking my question in the context of someone who is a bit of an amateur ‘film archivist’, which is a nice way of saying ‘pack rat’. We can debate the wisdom or lack of forever, but I get a kick out of being able to pull a film out of the freezer that hasn’t been produced in decades and have it perform pretty much as new, and have dozens of different emulsions I’ve bought and frozen before expiration that do just that, mostly 35mm. I think I may try lowering the temperature a bit. Thanks again!

halfaman · Mar 17, 2021

That clarify a lot the point of your questions. In your case may be also interesting to know if there is a minimum temperature for film that it is advisable not to surpass,

Freezing Color Film

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