Storing Negatives

[Alex1994]

What precautions do I have to take for doing this? I keep all my negs, colour & mono in plastic sleeves. What sort of temperature and humidity are ideal? Any other conditions I need to keep an eye on?

Thanks

Alex

 

[hugopoon]

Keep them in a dark area. Slows down fading or something…

 

[Prest_400]

Wilhelm Imaging Research has got an interesting book talking about everything archival: Dead Link Removed
Chapter 16 talks about the environmental conditions.

Overall it's about keeping temperature low (lowest as possible, much better for color; B&W doesn't care that much), Humidity between 30-50% and dark. Also away from pollution.

 

[Alex1994]

So what about keeping exposed negs in some sort of cool box?

 

[bobwysiwyg]

I, my equipment and negatives were relegated to the basement a long time ago. Our basement is pretty dry as basements go, the humidity is between 35-55% (winter vs. summer) and the temp. between 65-70, which is pretty much the comfort range for us humans as well. Some of my negatives are more than 40 years old and are fine.

 

[clayne]

Some of my negatives are more than 40 years old and are fine.

Ah but this is only because your basement had quite favorable conditions. 30-60% humidity is not common in basements at all. Even my garage stabilizes between 50-80 depending on season and daily weather.

Highly valued negatives should be relatively air sealed and frozen. A vacuum seal is not necessary but cold temperatures and the implicitly low humidity of a freezer are quite a big advantage.