Questions Re: Freezing photo paper.

Gene_Laughter · Sep 6, 2006

I have never put B/W fiber base photo paper in a freezer. Questions: Should the boxes be placed in freezer bags before placing them in the freezer? When I wish to take some paper out of a box for a darkroom session, how long to thaw the papers I am going to use? Any other tips? Thanks!

mkmiller · Sep 6, 2006

If your going to freeze them, I would put them in a ziploc bag before freezing and bring them back up to room temperature before opening the bag. I'm just thinking condensation could be a problem. I've never been able to keep paper long enough to think about storing it.

Gene_Laughter · Sep 6, 2006

mkmiller said:
If your going to freeze them, I would put them in a ziploc bag before freezing and bring them back up to room temperature before opening the bag. I'm just thinking condensation could be a problem. I've never been able to keep paper long enough to think about storing it.

I would be freezing 100 sheet boxes. I wouldn't wish to thaw out an entire box to use 10 or 12 sheets. I would be freezing discontinued paper that I would never be able to purchase again. Thanks.

Photo Engineer · Sep 6, 2006

I freeze all of my paper. When I'm ready to use it, I move it to a refrigerator for a while, then bring int up to room temperature.

PE

Ronald Moravec · Sep 6, 2006

50 sheet boxes take 3 hours. 100 sheet boxes take 6 hours. Standing on edge will speed thawing.

Just feel the box. I more than chilly, wait. Just take out the night before. If you freeze in smaller batches, there is less worry. Use the 25 sheet packs you used to purchase.

The bad new is it does almost no good to freeze the modern papers. Chemicals are added to the emulsion so the manufacturer will not have to age them before distribution. Good for them, bad for us as the shelf life is cut dramatically.

Some of the east European papers may not be made this way.

Photo Engineer · Sep 6, 2006

Ronald;

The chemicals are not there to speed age B&W papers AFAIK. Color paper does not contain these chemicals. The chemicals in question are B&W developing agents and the test for them and their effects are discussed elsewhere on APUG in a great number of posts.

They do decrease shelf life of B&W papers though, as they oxidize. Neither refrigeration nor freezing will stop this, but it will slow it down. Also, not all papers contain these ingredients.

PE

Gene_Laughter · Sep 6, 2006

So, it looks like I should:

1: Repack 8 x 10 Agfa paper from boxes of 100 into black lightproof bags of 25.

2. Place each bag of 25 into a zip lock bag. Not food freezer bags I gather.

3. Place in freezer.

4. Thaw each bag of 25 six hours or so before using.

Is that the plan, Stan? :>)

Photo Engineer · Sep 6, 2006

Gene, it depends. The exposure of the paper to air begins the oxidation process of the incorporated developer(s).

This may hasten the process for some papers, and it may make no difference for those without the incorporated chemicals.

FWIW, Ilford contains them, and the Kentmere that I tested last year did not. Luminos did not. etc. I can't test every paper, but I know some do and some don't and the products change continually on either list.

Best of luck though.

PE

Donald Miller · Sep 6, 2006

Well you certainly can not accuse me of being anal retentive about this practice. I freeze all of my paper and remove it immediately prior to use and don't much care whether it is thawed or not (actually considering that it is a dry substance, I wonder what actually freezes). I have no problems getting the results that I want with this "frozen" paper.

I do wrap the boxes in plain old tall trash bag liners...not any problems considering that I don't use ziplock bags. Some of the old Seagull has been in there for years and still prints just fine.

L Gebhardt · Sep 6, 2006

I just put the boxes in the freezer without even wrapping them. No problems with condensation except when I pull them out. So I put the box in a plastic bag if it is humid. The worst that has happened is the box has gotten a bit damp. I have also put the boxes back after using some sheets. I just ry to get all the excess air out of the internal bag. Again no problems.

tim rudman · Sep 7, 2006

Gene_Laughter said:
I have never put B/W fiber base photo paper in a freezer. Questions: Should the boxes be placed in freezer bags before placing them in the freezer? When I wish to take some paper out of a box for a darkroom session, how long to thaw the papers I am going to use? Any other tips? Thanks!

Hi Gene,
I regularly freeze lots of paper, - especially discontiued favourites with cadmium etc. (I have 3 freezers and a couple of fridges full at present).
I always wrap in plastic as a precaution, although not sure if necessary - but some of these papers are irreplaceable now. I have on occasion just put a packet straight in as it is and never noticed a problem.

If I know or remember the night before, I will take out in advance.
If not, I take out the same day and put the first few sheets in my light-tight drawer while I get ready to print.
I have also printed straight from the freezer with no ill effect.

The volume of a large sheet of paper is very small compared to the large surface area it has, so I don't think it takes long to warm up once separated from the rest in the box.

Tim

Max Power · Sep 7, 2006

PE, (or anyone else for that matter)

When pulling film or paper from the refrigerator or freezer (respectively) I place a couple of those little dessicant packages in the ziplock to absorb any excess moisture.

Is this a useful practice, or a waste of time?

Cheers,
Kent

Photo Engineer · Sep 7, 2006

Max Power said:
PE, (or anyone else for that matter)

When pulling film or paper from the refrigerator or freezer (respectively) I place a couple of those little dessicant packages in the ziplock to absorb any excess moisture.

Is this a useful practice, or a waste of time?

Cheers,
Kent

I never use dessicant for paper, and have never had a moisture problem. I refreeze or re-refrigerate (is that a word?) all the time without problems.

I say, do what works though.

PE

Questions Re: Freezing photo paper.

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