ilford rc paper storage... is this supposed to be refrigerated??

[heespharm]

So I just got 600 8x10 sheets of ilford mgiv rc for about 120 bucks.. (good deal!!!) where should i store the extras??? in the fridge??? or at room temp?? freezer??? scoured the net and could find a definitive answer...

 

[Ian Grant]

Just keep it in a cool room,it;ll last quite a few years.

Ian

 

[stillsilver]

How fast do you go through paper. I keep my paper in a refigerator until it is time to restock the paper safe. If a paper I liked was going to discontinued, I'ld stock up and put it in the freezer.

Mike

 

[Mick Fagan]

Whatever you do, store them flat, not sideways.

I bought 10 boxes of Ilford 100 sheets plus 20 a couple of years ago and stored them in my refrigerator for nearly two years before using them up early this year on a big print run.

Umm, I paid bucket loads more than you have, good on you.

I once picked up some RC B&W paper that had been stored sideways, the paper had a curl like a boomerang and was really hard to get flat, needed a vacuum easel.

Mick.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

The point is: the colder the better. However, there are some practicality issues as well. Frozen papers last longer than refrigerated papers, but they need to be thawed before use, and well packaged to avoid moisture. That's too cumbersome and not without danger for general and frequent use. A good compromise is refrigerator storage well above freezing. I have used papers as old as 10 years that way without ill effect other than a small loss in speed and contrast, which is easily compensated for.

 

[removed account4]

i just printed some proofs on 7-9 year old rebranded ilford rc paper.
it was just stored on a basement shelf ... and printed really nice.