How long should I expect frozen RA-4 paper to yield good results?

[KyleMika]

I ust purchased some fresh Fuji Crystal Archive Type II and I'm going to freeze it until I use it. I was wondering, how many years people have refrigerated or froze their RA-4 papers (unexposed) and had good results still? Looking around, I have not seen much discussion on the subject. Thank you.

 

[koraks]

I only know that Fuji in their factory store the paper refrigerated (not frozen) and give it a lifetime of 1-2 years. That's by their strict standards, and chilled, not frozen. So I'd go with 2+ years, but how far beyond the +2 point you'll make it, I think nobody can say.

I do know that the paper that was made by them 10-15+ years ago kept well for years and years, sometimes. But the more recent material goes off within a few years under normal storage conditions.

 

[Klaus Mähring]

I use Fuji Maxima from the freezer. 3-4 years seems to be no problem.

If you plan on using just a part of the roll, it is better to cut it into smaller rolls before freezing. Unfreezing and re-freezing paper is not good. When freezing, wrap it so no humidity can enter, and leave it to unfreeze for 24h before opening for use.

 

[halfaman]

I ust purchased some fresh Fuji Crystal Archive Type II and I'm going to freeze it until I use it. I was wondering, how many years people have refrigerated or froze their RA-4 papers (unexposed) and had good results still? Looking around, I have not seen much discussion on the subject. Thank you.

A friend gave me a box of this paper stored at room temperature for 2-3 years and results were ok to my eyes

 

[DREW WILEY]

Their current premium papers - namely, Fujiflex, Maxima, and Super C ii - claim a special treatment which prolongs their storage life before evident base yellowing. I think the widest roll which will fit in my freezer is 24 inch. I always seem to have leftover portions of 30 or 40 inch wide rolls which never get used in time before they go blaah. Ordinary cut sheet CA is easy to use up in time.

But I might try to acquire a roll of 24 inch Maxima once weather-related shipping issues calm down (and before potentially insane new tariffs arrive). That's a roll width harder to get than typical 20, 30, 40, and 50 inch sizes, but would be easy to cut down into either 20x24 or 24X30 sheets as needed.

I once had a 40 inch roll of Fujiflex which was good for 5 years before symptoms of aging. I never refrigerated it; but the climate here is generally cool due to coastal fog.