How do I make paper last longer?

[Rick A]

I don't print as often as I'd like. How can I store my FB paper so that it'll last a year without fogging?
Thanks!

Definitly archival fixing. Statistics show that properly fixed and washed paper(prints) last decades. Followed closely by proper display.

Rick

 

[fschifano]

It is most likely a safelight issue. Yellow is not good for variable contrast papers. Kodak "OC" or equivalent is the absolute minimum requirement. I use red myself, and though that probably is a bit of overkill, it is safe for the ortho-lith films I use and I'm too lazy to be changing out safelight filters when I change materials. Exposure is cumulative, so while a short period of exposure under the yellow safelight might be ok, over time the other sheets in the box are accumulating exposure each time it's opened. As for storing the paper without the black plastic bag, that's no good. The cardboard boxes or envelopes are not necessarily light tight, nor were they designed to be.

 

[Dave Krueger]

It's not a fixer issue or a safe light issue. He's asking about paper that has not yet been used and he has tried developing it in total darkness.

 

[fschifano]

Actually, the OP doesn't say if the package has been opened or not. From the tone of the original question, it is almost inferred that he's working from an opened package. I've personally seen people take the whole stack of paper out of the bag, then leave it on the counter for the entire session. Maybe that's what's happening here, and that could certainly account for safe light fog. The OP also says that he's using a yellow safe light which is definitely NOT recommended for the variable contrast paper (Arista.EDU Ultra, something I use quite a lot of and have tested under a yellow safelight) that he's using.

 

[Dave Krueger]

Ok, Frank. I stand corrected. You're right that the paper could be fogged from previous exposure to the safelight aside from his developing the strip in the dark.

 

[hrst]

Paper is so slow anyways that generally you don't have to worry as much about it going bad compared to film.

With film, a small amount of fog just decreases contrast and can usually be compensated when printing; you won't even notice it. But with paper, even a very little fogging shows up quickly. There are big differences between papers. 4-5 years at room temp can make some papers unusable (unless you modify your developer) but a BW film of 100-400 speed stored for 4-5 years at room temp is probably still usable.