What is the risk with storing film and paper in the darkroom?

adelorenzo · Feb 26, 2014

I was flipping through The Camera the other day and I noticed that Adams advises against storing film, paper and cameras in the darkroom. He does not mention why this is a problem.

I keep everything in my darkroom: film, paper, chemicals, finished prints, mat board, cameras.... Searching through some old threads I see humidity problems being one reason put forward. My darkroom is sitting at 20-30% RH so I don't think that is going to give me any grief. Are there any other reasons not to store these materials in the darkroom?

fretlessdavis · Feb 26, 2014

If you have any sulfide toners in there, the gasses can fog film and paper. With some of my older Takumars with Thorium glass, UV helps to keep the lenses clear, as they can yellow with time. They likely get out enough for this not be be an issue. Not sure how long it takes for the yellowing to start. There's always the risk of spilling chemicals, too. With film and cameras outside of the darkroom, they'll never get developer or fixer spilled on them.

jp498 · Feb 26, 2014

Depends on where you live, but I live in a humid location and the darkroom is even more humid. I want a less humid place for my cameras/lenses/finished prints/archives. Makes cleaning the darkroom a little nicer too if there is less clutter.

Terry Christian · Feb 26, 2014

The vapors from evaporated chemicals in exposed trays can't be good for film and paper -- and dust from them for your cameras.

David Brown · Feb 26, 2014

I never have cameras in the darkroom. I know of folks who do, but I never saw the point of taking cameras into the darkroom.

Unexposed film is the same, except that: I have a small fridge in the darkroom and that is where I store film. I also use the fridge for darkroom functions like chilling water, so it serves double duty. And since the film is protected by the enclosure, I don't see a problem.

As for paper: I've heard this before (this question is another that shows up on apug periodically). Yet, I've never been in another photographer's darkroom where there wasn't paper. Obviously, "YMMV", but I would have to see some demonstrable evidence before getting too concerned.

BradS · Feb 26, 2014

Terry Christian said:
The vapors from evaporated chemicals in exposed trays can't be good for film and paper -- and dust from them for your cameras.

This is exactly the problem. The vapors from the chemicals sitting in open trays for hours are really not good for any photo materials (obvious) and they're not too kind to camera gear either.

I think Ansel Adams was also a little spooked by the darkroom fire he had at some point.

David Brown · Feb 26, 2014

BradS said:
This is exactly the problem. The vapors from the chemicals sitting in open trays for hours are really not good for any photo materials (obvious)

So where does adequate ventilation figure into this equation?

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 26, 2014

Vapors, particularly from toners, is also what I have heard. But I've stored photo papers in my darkroom for years, and I can't see a difference between a two year old packet of paper stored there and a fresh brand new one. I use sulfide toners.

Go figure.

I will add that while my darkroom is a hell hole of being cold, very uncomfortable, humid, and unpleasant, due to being in an uninsulated basement in a hundred year old house in Minnesota, it is quite large. Any fumes from sulfide toners get quickly dissipated in the volume of air it has.

Gerald C Koch · Feb 26, 2014

I was flipping through The Camera the other day and I noticed that Adams advises against storing film, paper and cameras in the darkroom. He does not mention why this is a problem.

Perhaps Adams thought the reasons were obvious.

To the list of problematic chemicals add acidic baths such as stopbath and fixer. Fumes from these can hasten corrosion of metal parts. It is also not a good idea to store raw chemicals in the darkroom. Then there is the problem of the high humidity -- not good for paper and film.

Ian Grant · Feb 26, 2014

I had papers from the 60's stored in my darkroom and no issues over the years, slow and a touch less contrast but no fogging. I don't tone in the darkroom now but I have in the past.

Ian

Mark_S · Feb 26, 2014

Cameras don't come into the darkroom, most paper and film is in a refrigerator in the darkroom and I haven't had any issues, but then I haven't produced anything that I could hang next to St Ansels's either.

eclarke · Feb 26, 2014

Don't overthink and move all the product faster.

Born2Late · Feb 26, 2014

They might get used and then you wouldn't have them anymore.

DREW WILEY · Feb 26, 2014

Oh gosh... in this foggy climate here it would be unthinkable to keep film or paper in the sink room. Mildew and every other sin imaginable.
I have a completely different room for film work. In fact, I would never put any of my enlargers in the sink/developing room.

DREW WILEY · Feb 26, 2014

Postscript ... AA's darkroom was primitive even for his day... so I don't know why people constantly go around quoting him on such subjects.
I can always tell when someone has kept an enlarger or lens or camera in a steamy darkroom cause it's all rusted somewhere, and there is often
mold in the lenses. You name it. Negs with mold growing on them don't print all that good either. Seen it all. But a lot is climate and ventilation
related.

Sirius Glass · Feb 26, 2014

My papers are in my dry darkroom where the enlarger is. After I expose the paper, I put it in a box and carry it to my wet darkroom. I have not problem with keeping cameras and paper in the dry darkroom.

adelorenzo · Feb 26, 2014

Thanks for all the replies. Like I said, especially in winter my darkroom is very dry so I'm not too concerned about humidity. I was wondering if there were other considerations beyond humidity, some of which have been mentioned here.

I don't really have to keep cameras in there (some of them aren't) but I'm trying to avoid taking over too many rooms with my hobby. I might look into storing all of them somewhere else. Film and paper will stay in there, although most of my film supply is in the kitchen freezer.

adelorenzo · Feb 26, 2014

DREW WILEY said:
Postscript ... AA's darkroom was primitive even for his day... so I don't know why people constantly go around quoting him on such subjects.
I can always tell when someone has kept an enlarger or lens or camera in a steamy darkroom cause it's all rusted somewhere, and there is often
mold in the lenses. You name it. Negs with mold growing on them don't print all that good either. Seen it all. But a lot is climate and ventilation
related.

Until you write your book Drew I'll have to stick to reading Ansel Adams.

What is the risk with storing film and paper in the darkroom?

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