If you do not freeze control strips, they age the same way as the stock on the market. Very, very simplified.
Thus the process control would be more apt for those very films processed than a frozen standard which would not represent the actual stock.
Convincing? Not very much to me…
Thus I informed at Kodak:
“- Do not freeze recommendation for KODAK Film Control Strips, Process C-41 -
KODAK Control Strips, Process C-41, have excellent keeping properties. As a result, we have changed our temperature recommendations to a range of 40 to 55°F (4.5 to 12.7°C). This change is indicated on all Process C-41 film control strips packaging beginning with Batch Code 5011.
Freezing Process C-41 controls strips can cause problems if they get damaged, corrupt derivation of your process aim, and result in even more effort to correct.”
Though the second paragraph is enigmatic to me. In the context referred to I don’t see any difference between freezing and cold storage. They could be damaged in both kinds of storage. Or does this mean they corrupt your process just because of freezing, which would be contradictory to the first paragraph? Is there another hidden meaning in that paragraph?